I noticed this book on the NEW shelf the other day while working and I just had to check it out. The title caught my eye- anything to do with running and eating sounds good to me. Run Fast Eat Slow is written by good friends Shalane Flanagan and Elyse Kopecky. Shalane and Elyse met in college and ran together on the University of North Carolina’s cross country team. The idea for the cookbook came when they were eating dinner one night and talking about food and maintaining a healthy diet while still running competitively. They decided to “show runners everywhere that by indulging in real food they will not only train and perform better, but also improve their overall health, all while enjoying what they eat more than ever before.” 
The book is full of antidotes and recipes. I especially enjoyed Marathon-ready Favorites that Shalane enjoys before a marathon. They include Pre-race dinner recipes, Marathon Day Breakfast ideas, and Post-race Celebrations that even includes Oregon microbrew! 
One recipe we tried at home was the Hearty Minestrone with Spicy Sausage and Beans.
It was delicious! We added ground turkey in place of spicy sausage and we did end up adding the kale as the recipe suggests to do if you want to load up on calcium and iron. We of course enjoyed a Backwoods Bastard from Founders as well! I also altered the recipe by cooking it in the crock pot instead of on the stove. The broth was so good and it was packed with vegetables. We ate the soup for days.
We have been sticking to our goals of trying to run 15-18 miles per week and eating healthy.
When we run, especially longer runs or races, we usually eat a high protein nutritional bar before hand. We have done this for years, but I always questioned if the calories and carbs were worth it. After reading this book, we will dump the protein bar and start eating dried fruit and especially dates before races and longer runs. According to the authors, dates make an ideal snack to fuel long runs since they are easy to digest and high in glucose for quick energy. And, unlike the processed glucose found in energy gels and some bars, they’re naturally high in minerals, including potassium. That is good to know!
I will be keeping this book for the three week check-out period and trying more of the recipes and of course I will share what I make. And I might just end up buying the book to add to my collection.:)
Karen
Happy Valentine’s Day! 💘