5:00

last week I ran a 4:55 1500. This week I ran a 5:00 1500. The question is, why? And what can I change this week in order to have the best possible week? Was it sleep, was it the lack of speed workouts on a track, was  it diet, or was it something else entirely? I have no idea. Furthermore, if it was food, was it simply the food I was eating at Baca? It certainly wasn't a balanced diet, and was very heavy on soy, which I have trouble digesting, and might be mildly allergic to. Normally, some soy is fine, but an entirely tofu-based diet doesn't work well for me. I need to get my vegan protein from other sources like quinoa or nuts. The easiest way to rule out this concern would be to eat non-ethical dairy: Rastall meat is okay, but I am severely limited in my choice of dishes, since many of them include some kind of dairy. To best prepare for my race this weekend, then, I should eat nonethical dairy products.

But when I eat non local, unethical animal products, I am essentially saying that my sport, my hobby (running as fast as possible) is more important than animals' quality of life. It's not a question of health on a survival scale, but a question of optimum nutrition. To put myself first is unjustified, ethically. To eat non-ethical meat and dairy anyways would simply be an acceptance my immorality. I've accepted my own immorality before, when I shoplifted and didn't feel guilty about it. So why can't I eat dairy and not feel guilty about it? The answer is affect- by shoplifting I am not participating in or endorsing an oppressive lifestyle for another morally considerable creature.

So what do I do? Eat dairy, and accept my immorality? Eat dairy, and feel guilty? Or don't eat dairy and constantly second guess myself if I don't race well? I have no idea, and I have to decide soon.