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In case you missed it, we recently announced on the Michigan Runner Girl Facebook page a new MRG series, \u201cAsk Healthy Chef Ali,\u201d which features northern Michigan chef and MRG contributor Ali Lopez answering our top food questions. During today\u2019s show, she answers a few of them that have come in so far \u2013 ideas for healthy and tasty post-run fuel, mid-run treats, and more \u2013 and she\u2019ll continue sharing her culinary wisdom on future episodes.

Heather also checks in with Ali to see how life has changed for her during the pandemic, both with her work as a personal chef and culinary instructor, and with her ultrarunning race training. Ali acknowledged that the initial weeks of COVID-19 and the quarantine were rough. In more recent time, she\u2019s feeling more like herself. Ali also found motivation in helping fellow runners \u2013 she tells some great stories about creating race routes for her friends who were bummed about not getting to run a race because it had been canceled or postponed. She also helped a local runner tackle an epic ultrarun on M-22, starting in Manistee and ending in Traverse City.

\u201cIt felt like after a month and a half, all of a sudden I could feel kind myself coming alive again. It felt like, OK, I have gotten over this, this feeling like you\u2019re in this stuck place,\u201d she says. \u201cAnd then trying to move forward, try new things and get a little more motivated to do something different. A lot of it, too, is training-wise. I didn\u2019t have as much work so I could train more. But then all the races got cancelled. So, what am I training for? At the beginning, it was kind of weird. But a couple of weeks ago, I thought, this is great. I am still running, I am still staying active. But because I don\u2019t have a specific [race] date, it just feels like I can do whatever I want. The scheduled part of it is kind of nice, that it\u2019s lightened up.\u201d

Ali's most recent blog posts on MRG:

What Does a Chef Eat During a Pandemic?

Stocked Up with Cans of Beans? 7 Delicious Ways to Enjoy 'Em

Eat Smart, Run Well

9 Recipes from Healthy Chef Ali