Running London’s Iconic 10K with The Children’s Society and Five Protein Shake Tips
I am thrilled to share with you guys the reason for my happiness these days – I am participating in this year’s Vitality London10000. The last 10K I ran was in May 2016 and it will be exactly a year when I’ll run London10000 on 29th of May this year. And to top it up, I’ll be running the race as part of The Children’s Society’s team as one of their bloggers for pre-race and race day.
I am not an avid runner, if anything I am quite mediocre at it. However, over last year and a half, I’ve started enjoying it. Running is all the more special because Mr B likes running too and hence it is an activity that we both can enjoy together. Recently we aren’t finding any time to run together; we have been running separately at the time suitable to each one of us. But it is still exciting as it gives us another topic that we can discuss passionately over breakfast.
My timing for TCS World 10K 2016 (Bengaluru) was 1:20:22 and I’m my goal for Vitality London10000 is to beat my own record. There are some challenges that I face. For example, I have participated in only two professional races (Pinkathon 5K 2016 and TCS 10K 2016) and in both the races I was running with a buddy. Running with someone helped me push myself harder.
I’ll be running Vitality London10000 all alone and I feel that might have an impact. I am fearing negative but I am hoping for positive.
I am grateful to The Children’s Society for giving me this wonderful opportunity. I’ll be blogging through YellowMellowLife and through my social media accounts about my training routines, my preparations and of course my race day story.
I have been advised many a times for taking protein drinks but I never paid any heed to the suggestions. I always thought I am not working out hard and so my body doesn’t need any extra protein. However, back in January, when my gym trainer advised it, I took the advice seriously. Maybe because he had a way of explaining; get all ‘science’y with me and I’ll start trusting what you say! And more so because I had started working out intensively and I felt that my body does actually need an extra boost.
Since then, I’ve been taking protein shake on days that I am working out. While drinking protein shakes for two months now, these are the five tips that I followed and hope they can help you as well –
My Five Protein Shake Tips
1. Protein Shake is Not a Substitute for Balanced Diet
I am consuming protein shakes at the moment, however, I am also trying that my body meets its daily protein requirement through better diet. Being a vegetarian, a protein-rich diet is challenging. Luckily I am a lacto-ovo vegetarian and so eggs to the rescue! My daily diet still lacks recommended amount of protein but I am trying to get there by eating better. Therefore, I am consuming protein shake just once, only on days that I am working out; when my body actually needs that extra helping.
(Daily protein recommendation for an adult is roughly 0.8 grams of protein per kg of body weight. You can check your body specific daily protein requirement here.)
2. Flavour of the Protein Powder
It is better to have a flavoured protein powder. At least if it is your first time trying one.
Protein powders have a weird taste (especially aftertaste). Add to that the fact that you will be drinking at least a 250 ml of protein shake. Drinking 250 ml of a weird tasting liquid is not easy at all.
Therefore it might be better if your protein powder is flavoured. I am consuming chocolate powder. Even with the flavour, I can feel a hint of weird underlying flavour. But overall chocolate makes it much better.
I am using skimmed milk for shakes instead of water and that is making the protein drink even better.
If you don’t mind the ‘weird’ flavour, go ahead and enjoy the natural flavoured protein powder.
3. Timing of the Protein Drink
It is advised that the protein shake is consumed within an hour of workout (if possible within 30 minutes). This suits just fine to me. I come back home after I am done with the gym. As soon as I am back I feel hungry (of course!) and so I chug protein shake right away. It gives my stomach some solace and I get time to shower and prepare lunch without worrying about starving.
Another good time is drinking it before you hit the bed. This way the protein shake can help rebuild your muscles as you sleep.
4. Using a Blender is Better Than a Shake
Using a shaker to make protein drink has certain advantages. For one, you will be able to prepare and have the drink anywhere. However, overall, blender is way better.
I am always having my drink at home after I am back from the gym. And so I am always using a blender to make it. Blender does a better job of mixing the protein powder well with the milk, blending a smooth texture. Blender is also great if you are trying to boost your protein drink by making a fruit or vegetable smoothie out of it.
5. Clean the Blender Right Away
Initially I was making my protein shake, chucking the blender jar in washbasin and washing the jar much later during the day. After a week, the blender jar started smelling of protein shake. And I hate it when my utensils start smelling of food.
So now as soon as I am done making and drinking the shake, I fill the blender jar with a cup of water and a few drops of dishwashing liquid and whizz it up in the blender for about 10 seconds. Then I rinse it instantly. The smell of protein shake is gone and I find this to be an easy routine to follow.
Along with running for The Children’s Society, I am also going to raise funds for them. Here’s a link to my fundraising page. Have a look and donate if you feel like –
If you are residing in the UK and wish to help The Children’s Society in fundraising by taking on challenge events with them, click here.
