CURRENTLY: Getting Strong, Never Gets Old, Playlist?, & I'm Ready.

Happy Friday! We were originally going to go camping this weekend, but I’ve got quite a bit of work to catch up on before leaving for Eugene (IN ONE WEEK!) so we will probably just hang around here! I also want to create some amazingly fabulous dessert for my birthday on Tuesday (who says that someone else has to create it for your bday?). I’ve been scouring Pinterest for ideas on what I want to bake and it’s either down to this , this , this, or this.

Regardless of how my upcoming races turn out, I guarantee that my legs will be the strongest they’ve ever been thanks to the ample wall squats I’ve been doing.

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Also pretty sure that there will be 100% chance of me doing an epsom salt bath this weekend with some hot coffee and Gilmore Girls on repeat. It never gets old.

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Facebook also reminded me that it’s been 3 YEARS since I ran the Inaugural Star Wars Half Marathon with my mom?!? I remember training for this race super conservatively (since I had just had a PRP injection in my Achilles the summer before and did a very long 8-12 week run/walk program before I was cleared to run again without walk breaks (and also advised to avoid any sort of incline running as much as possible —> I did A LOT of treadmill miles during this time!). I also used this half as a training run before my 2nd marathon, Revel Rockies, where I somehow shaved over 30 minutes off my previous 26.2 time without much training! Thanks to that super fast course, it gave me a lot of confidence that maybe I could be a “faster” runner. It’s fun to look back on where you came from and the journey to where you are today.

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I’m also starting to put together my MARATHON PLAYLIST! I need suggestions! What are YOUR favorite pump-up jams? I have my race plan loosely coming together (so I can visualize it several times throughout the day) and roughly think that I will not start with any sort of music until the halfway point (this will be when we leave the streets of Eugene and head onto the bike path).

Also purchased my YETI and clearly, the cats love it. Or maybe they love cuddling with me? IDK.

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I’m ready for whatever race day brings me. I know it will hurt and there will be tough parts, but I’m stronger than whatever it throws at me. I will conquer the distance and come away with a big, fat PR. I used to back-down and cave when things got tough, but I’ve worked so much on my mental strength this past year and am ready to ‘be my own cheerleader’.

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-Favorite birthday treat? Any dessert recipe recommendations?!?

-Favorite raceday tunes?

-Wall squats- thoughts? Where do they fall on the burpee scale of love-to-hate?

CURRENTLY: Sorry In Advance, Making THIS, All Things BOSTON, I'm Determined.

I’m sorry in advance to my co-workers on Monday because I WILL be streaming the Boston Marathon and will 100% be cheering the entire 2+ hours.

I think I only get excited for Mondays when it’s Marathon Monday. The weather is looking similar to last years, but definitely warmer. There’s nothing worse to run in (I think) than cold, windy rain!

I rounded-up some of my favorite articles surrounding the Boston Marathon:

  • This one by Erin Strout (LOVE her!) regarding equality at the Boston Marathon. It’s time that the men were moved to the same standards that the women have been at for years. It’s a step-forward for gender equality and a win (I think!) for women! I also think that it’s good that they’ve opened up the earlier professional starts to anyone who has obtained an OTQ (Olympic Trails Qualifier).

  • This one by Emily Abbate sharing her mental tips to conquer the Boston Marathon (or really any marathon/ race). Mental strength is something that I’ve continued to work and am convinced it helped me get a break-through half marathon PR last month, when I had little actual ‘speed’ under my legs. Also- make sure to check out Ali On The Run’s Podcast Episode with Emily. It was SO good.

  • This one by Sarah Lorge Butler sharing Jordan Hasay’s journey to the Boston Marathon this year.

  • This one by Daphne Matalene about a runner’s 9 year journey to qualifying for the Boston Marathon. If you only have enough time to read one article, let it be this one. Daphne’s story is so incredibly inspiring, I want to read it everyday. It gets me excited to see where the running years ahead of me will lead.

  • This one by Cindy Kuzma aout Roberta Groner’s amazing sub 2:30 marathon. I’ve been a huge fan of Roberta’s for a while (thanks to Lindsey Hein’s amazing podcast episode with her)- she’s a single mom, full-time working nurse, and unsponsored runner in her early 40s. Another incredibly inspiring story.

I will also definitely be making this recipe that Amanda shared on Instagram! Also make sure to give her a follow because she is SO inspiring as well (and Boston-based)! YUM

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I updated my lock screen on my phone- I’M DETERMINED. It will be a lot of hard work and won’t happen in one or two or three training cycles, but I will get there.

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-Anyone running Boston? Good luck!!

-Marathon Monday- better than Christmas? Possibly…

-Favorite recipe to carbo-load??

CURRENTLY: Perfect Weather, Loving These, Nurturing Ourselves, And Good Morning?

Happy FRIDAY! I’m SUPER HAPPY THIS WEEK IS ALMOST BEHIND ME (can’t you tell how excited I am with the ALL CAPS?!?). It has been struggle-city with Alex away, extra stress at work, extra miles on the training schedule, and just feeling a bit crazy in all regards (aren’t we all? ; ) ) . On the plus side, it’s been the PERFECT running weather here finally (at least in my book)

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Also still really loving the AfterShokz Trekz Air wireless headphones (get a discount for them here). I had my tempo run yesterday and had to wear wired headphones —> it makes me wonder how did I ever function without bluetooth headphones for so many years?!?

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I am trying to get in extra GOOD wholesome calories while my mileage increases and homemade pizza dough (from this cookbook) with Pesto, Mozzarella, Zucchini, Black Olives, and Broccoli really hit the spot.

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I’m re-reading Deena Kastor’s book (here) and feel like I only want to read 10 pages at a time because it’s SO GOOD. I loved this part about how she began to nurture herself. I’ve got some nurturing myself planned for tomorrow morning —> Getting up at my normal weekday time (5am), driving to Steamboat (where it isn’t quite so crazy hilly), running 28 miles on a few roads that I know will be pretty quiet, getting in some strength at the gym, soaking in the hot springs, and going somewhere delicious for a post-run meal (thinking a sub somewhere sounds good). I’ve also reserved a few books at the library, so excited to do some reading this weekend!

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I’m also really excited to follow along on the MS Run The US Relay this year - it starts TOMORROW! Find all of my old recaps of my relay segment here.

Also: this is what I woke up to this morning - what did you wake up to?

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Ways you love to nurture yourself?

What did you wake up to this morning?

Favorite last recipe you cooked?!? —> I need something new to try!

What I'm Currently......

Happy Friday! We really have no plans this weekend and 100% OK with that. It’s my final weekend before TWO big weeks of PEAK MILEAGE then I’ll begin tapering for both races! These next two weeks will fly by , so trying to savor the very small amount of mileage I have on tap while I can!

SO here are a few things I’m LOVING lately.

Getting THIS long sleeve for post-Eugene marathon bliss:

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Homemade Beet/ Cocoa/ Honey Oatmeal

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Testing out THESE headphones as a Bib Rave Pro (find a discount HERE). So far- LOVING them!

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Not sure if I’m necessarily LOVING them, but wall squats

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Massages. Hands down the best thing I’ve done this past week. Treat yourself!

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Three things you’re loving right now?!?

Any other aftershokz headphone lovers out there?

Are you pro massage?

What I'm Currently......

Happy Friday! I’ve got a busy weekend of running (33 miles to be exact —> over 2 days!), teaching skiing, and chores (cleaning/ laundry/ organizing/ cooking the usual…) ahead of me, so here’s a quick little “what I’m currently…” series to kick off the weekend!

Currently Reading….

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Currently obsessed with eating post-run…..

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Currently making every week from Run Fast, Cook Fast, Eat Slow cookbook….

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Currently wearing these sunglasses every.single.day (get your discount for them HERE —> I got them for free for being a Bib Rave Pro, but honestly just really love them)…..

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Currently doing…..more cat yoga….

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Currently still eating for breakfast…Chia pudding! SO tasty….

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Currently stocked up with……

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What’s currently going on in your life?!?

Weekend things you’re doing?