10 Things- Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving! I’m thankful for a renewed commitment to blogging (even if no one actually reads this) and my family. It’s been a challenging and heavy few years in a lot of ways, but there has also been a larger sense of growth in all aspects of my life (thanks to also finding an exceptional therapist too). I also only think of Thanksgiving and this Friends episode:

I haven’t done a ‘10 Things’ post in some time, so here are 10 things happening in my life right now. No Turkey Trots for me today, but I will be getting in some morning miles and strength training before we’re hosting around 15 people at our house. Here’s to hoping our Turkey comes out OK!

Currently listening to on repeat this song:

Currently reading:

Currently obsessed with our new coffee maker:

Currently reading everything there is to know about NYRR United Airlines Half!!!:

Currently trying to PR my 45-minute Peloton PR from taking an in-person class the beginning of the month:

Currently listening to ‘Let It Go’ on repeat and researching Frozen-related things to make an amazing 3-year old birthday party:

Currently wondering why I never go into modeling (since clearly I definitely had a knack for it):

Currently counting down until Christmas when we can give the girls this Dollhouse:

Currently researching how expensive it would be to move our entire family (& extended family) to Canada (LOL…kidding…mostly….Well- Vancouver would be cool!):

Currently having my coffee in this mug (& completely obsessed with it):

What are some of your ‘currently moments’ from the past week?

Get Up & Run?

Getting up early is HARD. When I first started working out in the morning, my alarm went off around 6am and I thought that was ridiculous. Actually, I started working out early because I was training for my first marathon and had no other time in the day to get my strength and runs in, so early on my way to work was my option. I would shower afterwards and head to the office. It was during this time when I came to appreciate getting sweaty in the early morning hours and feeling like I accomplished a million things before the rest of the world would get up. I would also only do this three times a week to start (M/W/F) and then find time to workout on the other days (my “sleeping in” days).

I have come to love the early morning hours. If I could go to bed earlier, I definitely would and get up even earlier. Currently, I’m awake most of the time between 5-5:30am and it’s been a more challenging adjust to get back to my routine after having the girls. Sleep feels most important and I’m sure that aging also plays a part in that. When I was still pumping, it actually seemed easier to get up early because I kinda had a time-sensitive thing to do! And since that chapter has closed, getting up early has become harder. When I have trouble getting up, I remind myself how much better I feel after I’ve worked out and that having this time to myself before the craziness begins is super important to me.

Some things that have helped me create and STICK to a morning routine:

• Consistent alarms. Both at night and in the morning. I try to go upstairs to start my bedtime routine around 9pm, knowing that I plan to wake-up by 5:30am.

• Have a nighttime routine. I used to be really good at stretching and journaling at night, but stretching has been neglected the last couple of weeks. I DO, however, use my yoga toes, journal, and read on my Kindle every night. Currently reading this.

• Lay-out your workout clothes the night before. I lay out all of my clothes for most of the week on my ‘off’ day, so I don’t have to think about what I’m going to wear in the morning.

• Have a plan. When I first started, I knew that I was going to run on the treadmill or outside for ‘x’ minutes and then do my strength routine. I think I even had the workouts written down on note cards (LOL).

• Prepping things make it easier. I have my coffee ready for the morning (1 cup before I workout), graham crackers (2) ready to eat before running/working out, and have my breakfast/lunch/snacks all ready too.

What has helped you stick with a routine? I definitely stray from my routine sometimes too and that’s OK! I think it’s important to give yourself grace and if sometimes you want to workout later in the day, then do it. I used to be very rigid in my running and workout schedule, but having kiddos has totally changed my perspective. I listen to my body more and get more sleep when it’s been a rough night of wakeups.

Why You Should Run Your First Marathon

I’m totally NOT biased at-all when it comes to running marathons, but I honestly think that they’re the BEST. I love the distance, but I really really love the training. My first marathon- I hated most everything about it, UNTIL that finish line. I couldn’t believe I actually did it. I experienced a million emotions throughout that 26.2 mile journey and really wasn’t sure I could get to that finish line (after hitting the wall around mile 14…lol silly, silly me)!

I also totally respect if you don’t want to run a marathon. You are still a runner- no matter what distance you do (and however long it takes you)! BUT if running a marathon is on your bucket list, then this post is for you.

I thought it would be fun to share what I’ve gained after running my first marathon (which was on my bucketlist and I signed up just before the New Year, so maybe you’re still debating- you have 2025 right around the corner)!

• I gained confidence in myself. If I can accomplish something like a marathon, what else can I do?

• I became stronger. Staying on your feet for long periods really challenges you in a different way.

• Consistency in running.

• A community that I never knew I needed.

• The training grind and covering distances I’ve never done was empowering.

Now, here are a few tips that I would’ve found helpful training for my first marathon:

• It’s going to hurt. Those long training runs have a purpose- don’t skip them.

• Some days are going to be really tough- you’ve got this.

• Follow a training plan

• Missing one or two runs for illness or niggle or conflicts, isn’t a huge deal.

• Find a nutrition plan during long runs and stick with it.

What My Off-Season Actually Looks Like

We’re deep into the off-season around here, so I thought I would ‘normalize’ what the off-season looks like for me! I’m certainly NOT running all the miles, nor am I lounging on the couch everyday. I still love to be active, but those activities look different than when I am in the ‘thick’ of training for a race. I took 11 days off of running after my half last month and then I really started to crave a run, so I went out for a short 35 minute run. I wanted to wait until I was really wanting to run again and if that took me several weeks, I was totally OK with that. I think it’s just as important to give your mind a break, as well as your body. During those two weeks, I wasn’t doing nothing- I did a lot of yoga and used my peloton bike (thanks to these two cuties for playing well when I did want to get in a quick bike session)!

I also started adding back in strength training after 7 days off of running and started with much lighter weights than what I previously used during marathon training. I think I started with 10 and 15 pounds, rather than 15 and 25 pounds. I also enjoyed other things too! I love taking the dog for longer walks and baking more. Homemade bagels from this recipe is what I’m loving right now.

I’ve also used this time to check-in with a PT (virtual sessions from here are a total game-changer), as well as working on my running form. I’ve been sleeping in more, working out during nap times or while the girls play and enjoying other activities too. I’ve painted the girls closet and cleaned areas of the house that have been neglected for way too long (oops). I purposefully wanted to give my body time to rebuild and get stronger before going back into marathon training, so a late June race sounded like the perfect time table.

I am definitely a happier person when I’m able to escape outside in the mornings though (ask Alex if you don’t believe me…), so I’m missing that part of the training the most, but the break from my routine is necessary for me to put everything into the next training cycle. Getting up early to work-out downstairs in our home gym just isn’t the same. The girls wake-up early and if I know that they’re awake, I’m much less likely to finish my workout because I want to see them (mornings are my favorite hour with them ; ) …). I also have NOT been restricting my nutrition during the off-season. I’m still enjoying all the things, but also being conscience of what makes me feel best. I don’t feel great if I eat a ton of processed foods or if I go 4+ hours between meals, so I do what makes me feel best, but I’m also approaching it with flexibility. This approach has really helped me decompress from the intensity that I approach marathon or half marathon training with!

Alex and I also escaped for a long weekend in NYC for a family wedding and it was amazing (mostly- the food and getting away for the weekend)! I also went to a live peloton class (Olivia Amato’s 45min Pop Ride), which was SO fun!

• How do you decompress after a long training season?

• Favorite activities or things to eat when you’re in the off-season?!

My next marathon!

Super excited to be heading to Minnesota in June for Grandma’s Marathon! This will be my third time in MN and first time running this race. This was also a ‘revenge booking’ after my disappointing finish at Wineglass (aka I registered as we were driving home from Wineglass). I’ve heard so many good things about this race and can only hope for good weather (a late June race sounds slightly intimidating)!

I wanted to share a few goals that I’ve been thinking about for race day as training is still several months away.

-I want to have fun. I think I lost that during Wineglass this past Pctober. I love running long distances and I really want to enjoy it.

-I want to get gritty. Like real gritty. I can never remember a time where I’ve crossed the finish line and felt like I had ‘nothing left in the tank’. I want to feel DEPLETED!

-I want to be mentally strong. More mindfulness in training.

-I want to be competitive with myself. I don’t want to shy away from paces that seem out of my comfort zone or back off when it starts to get uncomfortable. I want to really challenge myself with training.

-I want to build a strong foundation NOW for a super successful next year.

Anyone done Grandmas before? Have any suggestions?!? I’m nervous about the weather! My hotel is already booked- I’ve heard hotels can be challenging to find!