Feature Friday: Still Me By Jojo Moyes Book Review

Happy Friday! Finally we made it to Friday and hopefully I’m out there crushing my first 20 miler this training cycle this morning (outside)! I’ve powered through this crazy hectic week and on Sunday, I cannot wait to just sleep in, put my legs up, and not have any early morning obligations to tend to! I also finished my 4th book of 2019, Still Me By Jojo Moyes this last week.

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While I’m much-more of a non-fictional type of reader, I really enjoyed this one! It had more depth than other fiction novels that I’ve picked up recently. It’s light-hearted and I honestly had no idea that it was part of trilogy series! I will absolutely be picking up her other books because I fell in love with the main character as she stumbles through life in NYC as a caretaker for an Upper East Side power-couple. Her viewpoints of her situation (and also those who have an obscene amount of money) made her super relatable and I could totally see a lot of my younger-self in her (she’s still trying to figure things out and what her passion in life is)!

It wasn’t what I would consider a “breeze through read” either, which I appreciated. I think that there’s a time and a place for those types of books (aka a beach), but this one had enough substance to it, then it made for a great read at the end of the night (and then also the next day because I was so engrossed with the storyline). I’d love to hear if anyone else has read this series or any of Moyes books? Which one should I pick up next and are they all equally fantastic?

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Three things you’re doing this weekend? —> sleeping in on Sunday, baking something delicious, finalizing plans for another ski trip!

Feature Friday: Sky Runner Book Review, I'm Sensing A Theme Here, And Currently I'm...

Happy Friday! Finally right? I really loved the recovery week last and sleeping in, but getting back into a routine this week has been ROUGH. I also blame the patriots and Adam Levine for subjecting me to his bare stomach. Why did I ever think he was good looking?

It’s been a super snowy week here, so this morning will be my third run this week on the treadmill. I’m very grateful for the new treadmill at the gym that tells me my elevation gain (so important for my 50 miler in May that has lots of rolling hills!). I honestly feel that running on a treadmill at incline makes me so much stronger come spring. Another take-away from being indoors more- I’ve had more time to do things like yoga and now apparently, cat yoga.

I can’t remember if I posted this already, but obsessed with this maple syrup that Alex’s friend from Maine bought us. It only has two ingredients, Maple & Sea Salt (since maple can caramelize). You can find the company here.

Stella begs for most things food-related and also has the puppy-eyes down pat.

I’m already well-into my next read and LOVING it. It’s nice to change-up my usual non-fiction and bibliography reads to fiction every once in a while.

Also watched this documentary the other night on YouTube and I had dreams that I ran up and down the mile-long hill by my house all night. Ha. That was fun.

I just finished Sky Runner by Emelie Forsberg. I’ll be honest, I had never heard of Forsberg before picking up this book (which I also just picked up because the photos looked really amazing). It was a really quick read (i.e. it took me 3 days I think?) and included so many beautiful photos. I’m sure that the language barrier contributed to the lack of text in the book, but it had more of a “look book” feel rather than a full “reading book” (I know that’s not that correct term, but just go with it!). It was fun to read about a few of her running journeys, but I had trouble relating to her story. Overall, just not really my thing, but still fantastic information and photos in there!

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Ever watched any documentaries on YouTube? —> I have a few more on my list that I’ve been wanting to watch for a while and will probably stream one this morning when I’m on the treadmill (thinking the Breaking 2 project!)

Favorite genre to read? —> Non-Fiction or Bibliographies are my jam.

Thoughts on the halftime show at the Superbowl?

Feature Friday: Running With The Kenyans Book Review, Trying Something New-To-Me

Happy Friday! Finally we are out of January and into a MUCH shorter (hopefully less cold) month. I’m also trying something new-to-me diet-wise for the month: going vegan. NOW before you get all judgmental and say things like ‘how do you plan get to all your iron’ or ‘why would you want to do a thing like that?’ - hear me out. Whenever I find myself either in a food-making slump, having stomach issues (I had some major cramps on my long run last Sunday), or just in general not excited about my breakfast/lunch/dinner options —> I look to switch things up. I would really love to find out what types of foods agree with my gut and which ones don’t and eliminating everything besides fruit/ vegetables/ beans/ grains (gluten-free) seems like the way to go at the moment. I don’t forsee it as lasting longer than a month because I truly love pizza, burgers, steaks, chicken, BACON all that goodness. I also love cheese. But if I’m able to find out which foods make my body feel great and which ones do not- I think that worth it for the month. I have so many recipes I can’t wait to make and will be absolutely loading up on things like Molasses (in my granola), Tempeh (I’ve never tried it, but honestly it is so good for you- it’s made from fermented soybeans and has loads of B vitamins, calcium, iron), Chickpeas, lots of nuts. I am most certainly NOT doing it for “losing weight” “getting stronger” or to potentially boost my running performance (unlike this article mentions Scott Jurek did it for). I would love to just cut down (or maybe out?) the digestive issues that sometimes wreak havoc on me throughout the day.

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ON other news- let’s do another book review!

I recently finished Running With The Kenyans by Adharanand Finn. This book was a bit slow to start for me, but then I couldn’t put it down when he started to go into more detail about his training for his first marathon. Finn & his family packs up from London and moves to Kenya to study the Kenyan running way it Iten (one of the most popular (if not, most popular) running/training destination in the world). While there, he decides to sign-up and train for his first marathon and recruit several local runners to train with him. I love how he recaps their long run sessions (how mentally he felt through the run- I could totally relate) and the community that he describes there.

While he never truely uncovers the ‘secret’ to why Kenyans are such exceptional runners, they are all so humble and he does an excellent job of describing each individual that he meets (even Mary Keitany!). If you’re interested in an insight into training for your first marathon, Kenyan running, or just travel in general- I highly recommend this book.

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I’d love to know your thoughts on the book if you’ve read it?

Any books you can recommend to me?!?

If you are a Vegan + runner —> send me your favorite recipe!

Feature Friday: Michelle Obama's Becoming Book Review!

I really enjoyed Michelle Obama’s book Becoming. I thought that it was so well-written and wasn’t softened down at all. She really does tell it all and I loved how she used words that I had never before heard (i.e. I had to look them up in the Dictionary!)- I feel that it’s extremely rare when you read something these days and have to look up a word that’s used (or maybe that’s just me and the normal types of books that I read).

There were so many similarities that I found between her life and mine in her book and I especially loved one thing that she really continued to draw upon- we are planting the seeds to our life, but then we just need to sit back and watch them grow. —> I LOVE thinking of everything in my life this way and it really helps take a lot of the pressure off of everyday things that are ‘out of our control’ (same with running). If we’re putting in the work necessary for the seed to grow, then all we can do is continue to nurture it and wait.

I also thought how fitting it was how much she talks about her love for Chicago- I may need to read this book again right before I run the Chicago Marathon this year. It did get me really excited to see if the marathon passes by any of the major icons she mentions in her book (or in the neighborhood where her and Barack lived?!?). Another book that really tied into my running choices this year (Shoe Dog by Phil Knight was the tie to Eugene/ Eugene Marathon last Fall for me).

Another weird connection that I found out pretty immediately in her book- is that her father had MS. This is the second book that I’ve picked up (without knowing) that the author has a very personal connection to MS. She discusses the impact of his MS so well and I could relate to so many of the situations she describes (along with both her fathers’ feelings about the autoimmune disease, along with her views from the outside).

She does such a wonderful job tying in how she became First Lady, but also doesn’t sugar-coat it. She very plainly describes how difficult it was in certain situations to be in the limelight and how she came from a very typical middle class family, but was able to seek every opportunity that was presented to her. Another big take-away that I took from her book and one that I want to start implementing into my life —> how connections that she made helped open up doors (professionally) to both her and Barack. You never know who may meet that could help you later on in life!

Overall- this is a definite must-read in my book. I finished it in less than 2 weeks and honestly would have finished sooner if I had extra time on my hands : )

Have a great weekend and let me know your thoughts if you also read her book! I’m getting my long run in this morning (12-15 miles) and will hopefully get on the ski slopes one of the two days this weekend.

Here’s also a cute little photo of Brady because…why not ;)

Feature Friday: Running Fog And 100 DAYS!

Happy Friday! What an insanely stressful week. Work for me is honestly so overwhelming that I don’t look forward to going in most days. I know it will pass, but wow does it make me even more grateful for my runs and time at home to relax. Also reading something funny like this really helps.

My runs have also felt just funky this week. Nothing bad (per se), just harder than normal. Which I know I’ve got to factor in the marathon/ ultra training fatigue, crazy amount of ice/ snow I’ve had to run through, and treadmill mental toughness I’ve also been faced with. I’ve got an easy 8 miles this morning on the treadmill (because running on the roads when it’s snowing is not something I do—> I think it’s too dangerous with cars potentially not seeing you/ going off the road trying to go around you/ snowplows) and then am so excited to get a massage this afternoon!

I’m trying to do more ‘pamper yourself’ things lately since I have been so stressed. They really have given me something to look forward to (besides my runs each day too)! Very grateful to be able to afford such luxuries at the moment. Also views like this on my run yesterday morning was pretty spectacular.

We’ve gotten SO MUCH SNOW lately and more is coming today/tonight. Trying to decide between hibernating tomorrow or going skiing? Hmmm…tough decisions living in such a beautiful place.

Stella has the puppy eyes down pat by now (she’s 10 yrs old), but she really took it to a new level last night. She hates ‘lying down’ when we’re eating, so this was a nice ‘half up/ half down’ compromise. Ha.

I also have a few random thoughts for you before the weekend begins:

I definitely need this right?! Looks SO GOOD!

Also we’re down to LESS THAN 100 DAYS!

• I want everything from the new Spring Collection from Oiselle. Why couldn’t I just win the lottery?!

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When’s your next race?!

Favorite way to ‘pamper yourself’?

Favorite way to de-stress?

Tips for getting out of a running fog?