At Making Movement, we have the opportunity to work with some amazing people who inspire us in our everyday lives. These interviews shed light on how they excel in their art or sport.
Mara Crans
What are your greateast athletic accomplishments?
I have completed two full distance ironman competitions, five half iron mans, a five mile open ocean swim race, and multiple sprint and Olympic distance triathlons and road races. But the competition I am most excited to participate in is the Swim Run race in Casco Bay this summer. In this race you swim to each island, then trail run the island while tethered to your partner --. a total of 8710 yards open ocean swim (not taking rides and currents into consideration) and fourteen miles of trail running. I'm excited because I will be competing with my eldest son!
What are the foods that you eat everyday?
There really isn't a set group of foods I eat everyday. Lots of variety and I really listen to what my body needs depending on the day's workout. I usually start the day with a banana and peanut butter, and a preworkout drink of spirulina, morninga, chorella, frozen pineapple, water, a scoop of my electrolyte mix (or miso), and some beta alanine. Post workout I immediately take in my recovery drink then I get a full recovery meal in within the hour. This can be a huge salad with mixed greens, beets, carrots, avocado, chickpeas, quinoa, almonds, and a cilantro dressing or a homemade breakfast burrito made with sautéed kale/chard/spinach, sweet potato, scrambled egg, quinoa, chili black beans all wrapped in a sprouted grain tortilla, or somedays a big turkey/avocado or tuna sandwich. Snacks in the afternoon include apples with almond butter, macadamia nuts, or cheese, and dinner is a well rounded mix of protein, lots of veggies, and carbs.
What supplements do you take everyday?
I take Calcium, Vitamin D, a probiotic, EFA capsule, zinc, magnesium, and B12. During the heavy training season I take beta alanine, glutamine, and branched chain amino acids to aid in recovery.
How often do you train a week and for how long?
During the season I train six days a week 2.5-4 hours a day usually but can be up to 8 hours when training for a full ironman. In the off season 5-6 days a week 1.5-2 hours a day.
What do you do for your rest days?
Rest!!! And I prepare a lot of my food and training snacks for the week. I try to cook and bake all my training food myself.
When you train or compete, what is your choice for music?
I never listen to music. Part of my training is learning to be ok with the quiet, just being in my own head because that is how it is in a race. I try to practice giving myself pep talks when I get tired or hungry or cranky. I also love to just listen to the birds and nature sounds while I run and bike.
What books or authors do you recommend to your friends most often?
Lately I've been recommending a lot of cookbooks by athletes. I'm a collector! I especially love the one by Shalene Flanagan entitled Run Fast Eat Slow, and The Endurance Training Diet and Cookbook by Jesse Kropelnicki.
