Month: April 2019

Lentil Sweet Potato Curry

The magic of sweet potatoes

A bunch of raw, unpeeled sweet potatoes
Sweet potatoes are so good for you.

Sweet potatoes are wonderful. Not only are they full of beta-carotene and fiber, they provide lots of other nutrients to keep you feeling sustained and nourished. They’re also quite delicious and probably my favorite vegetable. (Many of the recipes on this blog feature sweet potatoes!)

More running means more delicious calories

The Rock ‘n’ Roll marathon is less than two months away, so that means we’re approaching peak training. When training for a marathon, your caloric needs slowly increase as your weekly mileage does. You may need about 3,000-4,000 calories during the days that long runs are 12 miles or more—everyone has different needs, of course. Runners rely heavily on carbohydrates for energy more than anything else; protein and fat also help rebuild and restore the calories that have been lost, especially during a long run. With that comes eating more delicious food, such as this coconut milk-based lentil sweet potato curry with rice.

Yellow sweet potato curry over a bed of rice in a bowl
Sweet and fragrant

This curry is an easy dish to make, especially if you’re busy and don’t have much time to cook. All you need to do is gather the ingredients and throw them into a crock pot. And voila! Your dinner is ready for you when you get home from work or a long run. It even smells sweet and fragrant as it cooks, so you know it’s good.

I highly recommend using full-fat coconut milk for a creamier consistency. Rice is a great side dish that absorbs some of the flavor. Bon appétit!

Sweet potato lentil curry over a bed of rice in a bowl

You will need:

  • 1 medium sweet potato, chopped into half-inch cubes
  • 1 15-ounce can of full-fat coconut milk
  • 1 15-ounce can of diced tomatoes
  • 1 cup of dried lentils, rinsed
  • 3 tablespoons of powdered or minced ginger
  • 1 head of garlic cloves, crushed with a garlic press
  • 1 teaspoon of salt
  • 1 tablespoon of curry powder
  • 1 tablespoon of garam masala
  • 1 tablespoon of turmeric
  • 1 tablespoon of cumin
  • 1 cup of water

Other ingredients:

  • 4 cups of water
  • 2 cups of dried basmati rice

Combine all curry ingredients in a crock pot and let it slowly cook on low heat for 6 hours. 

Put the water and rice in a rice cooker and let it cook until it’s done. Easy peasy!

This whole dish makes 4 servings.

When things get real

I’ve stated before that running a half-marathon is a friendly distance; anyone in good health can do it. Running a full marathon takes a lot more commitment, and it can still be done. Now that the long runs have exceeded half-marathon distances, shit is getting real.

There is that “wall” that comes up when training. The wall is the intense resistance our bodies and minds come up against, especially when we’re building endurance. In many cases, people stop when they reach that point, because it’s uncomfortable—which it is.

Keep going anyway.

I’m not here to tell you to be hard on yourself. It’s okay to be afraid. It also serves as a reminder to be kinder to yourself. When you’re nicer to yourself, things tend to work in your favor better.

I will say that under no circumstances should you think about quitting. It’s not easy, and if you need to, you can slow down to a shuffle—as long as you don’t stop. If running a marathon is something you think you can do, then that thought alone is a message. Going big distances is good for your soul.

I run solo, because it’s like a form of meditation. It further helps me gather my thoughts. (I’m also an introvert.) But you don’t have to do all of this alone. Try running with a group or even join a team. The camaraderie will help you get through the finish line.

When you push past the resistance and keep going, something wonderful and interesting is waiting for you on the other side. The endorphin high will be unlike anything you’ve ever felt before. Then comes the amazement that your body just carried you every single one of those 26.2 miles.

You got this.