Treats happen, especially in the weeks after big races. Wins call for celebratory sweets; losses require comfort food. Either way, the key for Laurel and Rebeccah at this midpoint in the triathlon season is to make sure the post-race treats don’t sabotage their three-a-day training sessions.
The thing about Athlete Food is that we're not all healthy, all the time. We eat plenty of kale salads and quinoa, but also have room in our lives for indulgences like cookies and milkshakes. Let's be real, who in their right mind would turn down a big slice of greasy pizza after riding a bike 85 miles? Splurges aren't a daily occurrence for us, but cake at a birthday party? A chocolate croissant from Amy's bread after a long run? Count us in! Growing up, our dad would always keep a canister of macaroons in the pantry at our house on Mastenbrook Place. Laurel would dig into them after school or after swim practice. But the sticky sweetness of these cookies was never my thing. I preferred for Fudge Stripes or Deluxe Grahams (which we also always had in stock).
Last Sunday night I was craving a real dessert, the kind from a restaurant. But I was in no shape to venture out after the day I had - a hard swim, a 4 hour bike ride in the rain, and 5 wet dog walks. Putting on regular clothes and changing out of my favorite soft pants to go back out in the rain: not an option. By the way, it does rain in LA, as I found out an hour into the bike ride. 
Most pro triathletes spend the winter at training camp, putting in grueling hours of work in order to prepare for the upcoming season. Instead of spending my days trail running, going on group rides and smashing swim sets, I spent the winter recovering from a C-section and waking up at in the wee hours to feed my newborn daughter. For the first time in my career, I kicked off the racing season while easing into training—slowly and solo.
