Life Updates Lately, Discount Codes For You, and How I'm Building Back Up

It’s been a MINUTE. I have been so busy and am super thankful that today was a snow day. I ~finally~ feel like I’m almost caught-up on life lately. It has been a whirlwind since the beginning of November. Let’s start by saying that we finally got a wedding date- June 6, 2020! So a lot of my time has honestly been spent putting together our website, ordering save the dates, and invitations. We’ve got a lot already planned, but it’s taken up so much of my free time! Cheers to finding the perfect venue and getting married in 6 months!

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I am also officially obsessed with this coffee! Anyone else tried it? I might need to stock-up before it goes away.

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We’re all decorated for the Holidays over here! We put our tree up the day after Thanksgiving (the earliest we’ve EVER done)! Who else has their tree up already?

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I also feel like this almost all the time right now. 2 weeks until finals!

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Brady is still trying to poison himself over here- this time with red berries from our Holiday decorations.

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I also started back up running a few weeks ago (YAY)! I’m not going to lie, it was really challenging to get out the door the first few runs. I was super sore after my first 3 miler back (hard to go down the stairs sore) and then it slowly started to feel easier. It felt so good to be back to my old running routes, but my brain definitely had a hard time adjusting back to the ‘longer duration’ activity mode. I had to keep pushing through the tough parts to get miles in the first 5-6 runs, then it started to ‘click’ again. Perfect timing for my Providence Marathon training to start back up again after the New Year! I also really missed the morning sunrises.

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I found that when I wasn’t running I was a bit more anxious, had less energy, and missed the daily structure that running gives me! I filled my time with a lot of yoga (jasyoga is my favorite platform!), barre on-demand videos (I used the free trials!), and doing strength work at the gym. We also started eating mainly plant-based a few weeks ago, which helped take my mind off running and I think it helped me ease into the diet. I don’t think I would have been able to switch my diet and be in crazy-intense marathon training right now! My goal for the next few weeks (probably until the end of the year) is to get between 30-40 miles per week. This week, my plan is to run 6 days a week with each at 5 mile increments, along with 3 quality strength training sessions (normally around 30-40 minutes). I’ve also reached out to a run coach to get some insight into what I can improve upon in my training for the future!

PS while you’re here, come sign-up and run the Providence Marathon with me! The swag that you get for both the full and half marathon looks AMAZING!

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There’s also still time to sign-up and train for the Bahamas Marathon happening in January! We were planning on going, but with the wedding date set we really need to focus on saving funds for that. Hopefully next year we’ll be able to go because I’ve always wanted to run on an island!

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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.

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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!

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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?!?