The Elusive 400m Sprint

 

Oh, grocery store. You continue to keep many in your vice-like grip, wandering up and down each aisle, wasting their precious time and hard earned dollars. Not me…I have conquered you. And now, I am going to tell the secret to all who will listen:

 

 

 Paleo grocery shopping is like a 400 meter sprint.

This is what we at CFR know about 400 meter sprints:

• The mere mention, be it run or row, (even after they’re over) results in grumbling. (Seriously, ask any coach.);
• Sprinting? Lets be honest-most of us (Troy excluded) can’t really sprint that distance (particularly if that blasted hill-side is involved);
• If you start out too fast, you’ll be sorry;
• Mental preparation is required;
• It’s not about how fast the other guys and gals are going;
• They aren’t as awful as they first appear; and
• When you’re finished, you are pretty dang proud of yourself.

Alter a few words, and sprinting all of the sudden sounds exactly like grocery shopping. Watch this handiwork:

This is what we at CFR know about 400 meter sprints grocery shopping:

• The mere mention, be it run or row day or night, (even after it’s over) results in grumbling. (Seriously, ask any coach adult.);
• Sprinting Shopping? Lets be honest-most of us can’t really sprint that distance (particularly if that blasted hill-side is involved) would rather spend money on something that won’t end up in the toilet (literally!);
• If you start out too fast, you’ll be sorry;
• Mental preparation is required;
• It’s not about how fast the other guys and gals are going;
• They aren’t It’s not as awful as it first appears; and
• When you’re finished, you are pretty dang proud of yourself.

How ’bout them apples?!? Sprinting = Grocery Shopping.

Grocery Sprinting

So, now that we have proven this, let me be your grocery sprinting coach. There are a few key areas to remember. Stick to these ideas and I guarantee you will cut both time and dread factor by at least a third. (I totally just picked that amount at random. But if you have a stomach and a brain it will probably help.)

1. Have a plan. I don’t mean you have to know exactly what you are making, although if you are that organized I give you mad props. I usually operate on the ‘I need 3 dinners and 2 lunches so that means I need __amount of meat’ plan.

2. Stick to the perimeter. Here is your map:

• Produce section. Free game. Anything your heart desires (other than corn, which they should put in a different aisle). Easy on the fruit. (Did you know there are ‘discount’ bananas for .29/lb at giant? I digress…)

• Egg aisle. (These I run out of EVERY week. I swear.) Oh, and grab your kerrygold butter.

• Meat Department. Again, free game. (Go hog wild. Or cow. Or chicken…Just do it.)

Veggies-check. Eggs-check. Meat-check.

And you’re done. No, I didn’t send you down the wrong route, it’s really that easy. (This is not a trip where you need pantry staples. You have them. Check back next week for more on that topic.)

Best.time.ever.

You’re now a certified Grocery Sprinter. What are your Grocery Sprinting Tips?

Until Next Time…

Mallory

 

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