Figure Friday: How To Stop While Skating

Happy Friday! We’re back (at the moment ha) to our regularly scheduled Figure Fridays!

Find this weeks ‘How To’ Instructional Video HERE - How To Stop!

Last week was honestly a doozy. I ended catching my cold, I had a huge exam to take on Saturday, worked over 25 hours at my 3 jobs, and had a final paper due for one of my classes. I’m just holding on, keeping my head down, and hoping that I make it to the end in the next four weeks. It’s kinda nice to not have to think about running any crazy races right now because I don’t think I would even be able to focus on it! I do really miss the stress-relief that running provides me, but two more weeks off before I’m lacing back up. I also know that taking the time now will help get me to the start line injury free at the Providence Marathon in May! I really do miss these views.

I mainly am taking a month off from running because it’s been YEARS since I’ve last taken any time off! I always say that I’m going to take 2 weeks off, but always end up coming back after one week. So, this time I’m STICKING to it and trying out new things! I’ve been doing a trail subscription of Pure Barre this week and am going to try out other online fitness classes (since we have none where I am at the moment!) for the next few weeks. It’s been fun to be sore after 15-20 minutes of strength/body work and know that this will make me a better runner in the future. It’s also been really fun to think really big about what my goals for 2020 can be. I’ve had a million different ones swirling around in my mind and while I haven’t made any concrete decisions yet, there are a few that I’m really interested in! Flashback to running in Eugene- so much fun to travel to races!

I also wanted to share with you some goodies about my current training that I’m doing to prepare myself for the start line in Spring 2020:

*Stretching more often

*Getting in QUALITY strength training sessions 4-5x/week!

*Breaking out that foam roller

*Focusing on my nutrition- I love to balance out some treats with also some really good wholesome meals! (cue RFCFES Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie baking spree ; ) …….)

*SLEEP!

*Meditate & Journal- I’m all about that self-care!

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I also wanted to make sure to share with you the discount code for the Bahamas Marathon in January 2020! Register before TOMORROW to save 15% off with the code MBSpecial HERE . I was planning to go to this race, but unfortunately student budget & family has taken top priority at the moment, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take advantage of the deal and then TELL ME ALL ABOUT IT. I’ve never been to the Bahamas and hope to one day!

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Favorite things to do on the ‘off season’?

Ever tried figure skating before?

Ever ran a race in another country?! How’d it go?!?

Training Tuesday: AfterShokz Trekz Air PRODUCT REVIEW & Must Listen.

"Disclaimer: I received an Trekz Air Titanium Wireless Headphones to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!"

Happy Tuesday! WOW. Am I TIRED. Ha. It’s finally starting to catch-up to me, so I’m upping my fluid-intact, sleep, stretching/foam rolling 2x a day, and eating super healthy. I’ve got some stressful weeks ahead of me before the marathon, so I’m trying to everything I can to minimize the stress. Come Wednesday, I’ll have all of my “long long" runs behind me so I’ll begin to taper, which I think should relieve some of that stress (but honestly the taper is sometimes a bit stressful to me too).

Before we get into my AfterShokz product review, I NEED to share with you a podcast episode that I listened to on my long run Saturday. THIS podcast episode was mind-blowing and honestly it gets me even more excited to read her book (I just picked it up from the library). Super informative and I think that I’d like to build my next training cycle around my hormones if I can somehow figure them out??

On a side note, you probably know by now that I’ve been testing out my AfterShokz Trekz Air headphones for a few weeks now- including on my 28 mile long run last week! Side note: I must have been slightly delirious by my last 7-mile segment because I definitely put my vest on the wrong way…Whoops.

I’m happy to report that they lasted the entire 4 and something hours I was out there. So that is definitely a bonus. But first, let’s back-track to the beautiful packaging they come in. Stella is also very interested.

So sleek and they come in this great case that my cat, Brady also equally loves (he actually picks it out of wherever I hide it and carry it about the house). I wish I had a photo to share, but he normally drops it by my feet before I can snag one!

I got the slate color and they came with also a charging cord and a 2-year warranty. I love that they have a 6-hour battery. They will get me through an entire marathon and a good majority of my 50 miler (which is perfect because I normally like to save music/podcasts as a ‘treat’ in the later miles of a race). I also really like that you can take calls from them (or ahem…ignore them…I’m looking at you telemarketers!) and they are sweat resistant.

Can ya tell I like to wear this visor a lot? Ha. I should probably wash it…

One of the biggest pet-peeves that I find with ANYTHING wired is how absolutely disgusting that wire feels when you get sweaty. You know what I’m talking about… it gets coated and slimy and ugh. it’s like those really humid days where even wearing a shirt is pointless because it just gets drenched two seconds into your run. I also wondered about the bone-conduction technology. I thought it was SO COOL, but also kinda weird? Like, would I feel it in my jaw (I’ve got TMJ)? Would it move all about and prevent me from catching up on my latest podcast?

I can 100% say for certain that it didn’t feel weird and they never moved on me ONCE! I never felt them and really love how mindful I am now on the run. I don’t tune everything out and come back from my run feeling more rejuvenated and at-ease with myself as opposed to tuning out the birds chirping, cars driving by, the quietness of a morning run. They are so much safer on the roads and I can’t wait to try them on the trails this summer. I know that I’ll be able to hear wildlife approaching, mountain bikers zooming down the trail, and fellow runners coming up behind me (all of my biggest fears when on the trails alone).

Aftershokz also has an amazing video about the headphones, which I’ll share below incase you’re interested! They are so light as well. Don’t forget to get yourself a discount code if you want to try a pair out for yourself.

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Ever done a training cycled that has followed your hormones?

Favorite part about running outside?

Last favorite podcast episode you listened to?