Weekend Recap & Another Book Review!

Happy Monday friends! I hope you had a great weekend. Ours wasn’t too eventful, but it was perfect. Filled with watching the RED SOX in the World Series, a whole weekend off of social media (for me), lots of reading (I hit my 12 books read this year goal on Thursday!), and kitty cuddles.
Let’s rewind to Thursday night- Brady clearly telling us that he was NOT going to share the pizza.

13.61 miles for my last run over 11 miles before Vegas on Friday morning! I have 10 miles on the schedule this upcoming weekend, but they will be nice and easy miles : )

This is my “I finished my 13+ mile run 10 minutes ago and it’s Friday and I’m just over doing my hair” hair.

Watched the Red Sox Friday night (I did NOT stay up until 1:30am to watch the full game, I only made it to the 9th inning ha). Saturday morning was filled with sleeping in until 7:30, cinnamon rolls for breakfast, strength, and enjoy the beautiful weather that we’re having here in CO with an easy trail run down at the lake.

Watched the full Red Sox game Saturday night and then slept in again until 8am Sunday! 6 easy miles on the treadmill, some recovery yoga, and epsom salt soak.

Followed that up with some yogurt and bananas for lunch with my new book that I’m really loving right now! : )

Took Stella for a walk Sunday afternoon and finished up a few chores before watching the Red Sox Sunday night!

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I also finished ANOTHER book (THANK YOU Librarys for forcing me to read this book in two weeks).

I had previously started Matt Fitzgerald’s How Bad Do You Want It a year ago when we went to Vegas, but I’m pretty sure that I left it there because it’s been MIA since then : ( SO I was really excited to find that the library had it.

This was a great book for anyone looking to up their mental game. It really does combine two of my favorite interests- sports and stories of athletes succeeding! Fitzgerald does a great job of blending in research-based facts along with the athletic feats. It never felt too scientific for me (although I do love researchy type books like that as well) and I honestly had a hard time putting it down!

Here are a few passages from the book that I LOVED:

YES.

THIS.

Have you ever read any of Matt Fitzgerald’s books?

3 things you did this weekend?

Are you a fan of baseball- did anyone stay up to watch the 7+ hour game Friday night?!

Friday Feature: I LOVE these articles, Can You Relate To This, A Few More Engagement Photos, & I Need Your Recommendations!

Happy Friday! This week kinda flew by for me - anyone else feel this way? We’ve got nothing on the schedule this weekend and I’m pretty excited. I’m getting in my LAST 14 miler before Vegas this morning (I have 10 miles on the schedule next weekend) so the weekend will be filled with some easy runs and hopefully lots of time spent in my pjs enjoying all the caffeine I can get before I cut out caffeine until race day (to get the extra boost from caffeinated gels) starting on Monday morning (less than 2 weeks out from race day).

I’ll miss you, coffee.

This is also the last weekend that Alex and I will spend together until after Vegas - he’s got a boys weekend next Sat/Sun and then has a work trip (arriving the day that I leave for Vegas…coincidence? I think not… ; ) ….), so I’m sure we’ll do something fun like watching the Red Sox in the world series in our pj’s!

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I came across two really great articles in Women’s Health this week and wanted to share them with you:

This article gave me chills about this women’s MS diagnosis. I cannot even imagine being 25 and experiencing everything that she went through to finally find out that she has MS. Reading things like this continue to remind me how truly grateful I am to be able to walk, run, and explore the outdoors. You never know what tomorrow can bring.

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This article explaining how using a genetic test like 23andme can give you insight into your possibility of having such autoimmune diseases, like MS. I haven’t done one of these tests yet, but thinking it will be going on my Christmas Wish-list!

This Runner’s World article with Des Linden is everything. I’m really hoping that we see an American Women’s podium sweep, but have no preference on who comes out on top. I love them all.

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Also this is 100% accurate. Pretty sure my outfit will consist of some type of leggings and either a sweatshirt or sweater. I actually pre-ordered a Turkey this year, so no chicken on Thanksgiving for us!

We got a few more photos from our engagement shoot:

SO I need your recommendations for my next race in a new state! Here are the states that I’ve currently been to and I’m hoping for something relatively close to CO in early Spring. Most likely a half marathon distance - GIVE ME YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS!

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Next race state- what should it be and any race recommendations?

What would you do today if you KNEW you would lose your ability to walk tomorrow? ——> Go for a really, really long trail run and explore something completely new-to-me.

Pick your top three podium finishers for NYC Marathon womens and mens? —-> I’m going with Shalene, Des, and Allie Kieffer! But also really love Molly Huddle

Trail Thursday: Capitol Reef National Park

Happy Friday-eve! Does anyone ever have those days where your hair is completely unruly and you are SO CLOSE to chopping it off?

Yeah… that was me the other day. It’s at this length where it’s in-between short and long and just not the most flattering (I think). I want to grow it out, but I also just really want to stop feeling like I look like a boy with long hair…

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Anyways, we’re almost to the weekend! I really wish we had some pumpkin patches near us here in Steamboat, but I guess I’ll have to settle for one at Safeway. I’m also thinking of doing a really cool pumpkin carving this year. Thinking either this one or this one. Do you carve pumpkins? If you do - do you use one of the stencils or freehand it?

I’ve got 7-8 easy miles on tap with some strides at the end this morning and hoping to fit in some strength either before my run or tonight. It’s always ten times harder to get my strength in after work for whatever reason- anyone else feel this way?

NOW- let’s get to our Capitol Reef National Park Recap!

Here’s some quick things that I took away from the park:

Fall was in full-force here and I LOVED it!

• Backpacking- super easy to find a spot and you can grab a wilderness permit once you arrive to the park. Unless the weather is bad, I think this is a great idea (we didn’t do this since we had Stella with us)

• Running- sooo many trailheads close to the Fruita Campground and even the scenic drive is a great place to run. I fit my run in on both the trail that runs parallel to the scenic drive and on the road early Sunday morning (so traffic was minimal). It was so beautiful and peaceful.

• Hiking- same thing goes for hiking as it did for running. So many easily accessible trails right from the campground OR you can drive to so many great hikes. Always remember to be prepared for your hike with adequate water, sunscreen, a hat, and know the weather.

• Driving- We did the scenic drive and also the Washburn side drive (it’s a dirt road with a few rocky sections), both of which were spectacular. We also drove into the park from the west and left the park from the east, so we did get to see A LOT of the park. There are plenty of side trips that we could have done (had we had more time).

• Food/Gas/Lodging- There really isn’t much inside the park, but I definitely recommend stopping at the Gifford House for some fresh pie! It’s directly next to the Fruita Campground so easy 5 minute walk. We got there around 8:15 Sunday morning and the pies were still warm (and there was a relatively long line). They’re a bit pricey ($6 per pie), but totally worth it. Hot, fresh pie for breakfast? Yes, please! The town of Torrey is to the west of the visitors center and gas/ food/ some lodging is maybe a 10 minute drive? It’s super close and convenient if you forget something.

• Orchards- I saw over FIVE orchards in the valley of the park (by the visitors center/ campground/ museum). We had just missed the apple picking season (by 2.5 weeks), but it really makes me want to come back and take advantage of the harvesting season. They have walnut, apple, pear, almond, and peach trees.

OVERALL takeaway - We will definitely be back. The history is amazing here (we came across the arch where Butch Cassidy hid!) and the overall accessibility is amazing. Pretty easy to bring your furry friends too (if you don’t want to go hiking), since the trail to/from the visitors center is dog-friendly. It may be the least popular of Utah’s Big Five National Parks too, so that’s more incentive to visit!

Fruita Campground!

Nice walking trails to the Visitors Center and green space to enjoy a picnic!

One of the orchards along the Scenic Drive

Views from my run!

Driving on Washburn drive towards the canyon

Butch Cassidy’s hideout arch- located in the top middle canyon!

Petroglyphs!

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Have you carved your pumpkin yet?! Gimme some ideas!

What are you up to this weekend?!?

Pumpkin Flavored things - yay or nay? —> no, thank you.

Ever been to Capitol Reef National Park? —> if yes, what was your favorite?

Las Vegas HALF Marathon RUNdown Week 14: 10/15-10/21

Happy Wednesday! I’m really beginning to love Wednesdays since I’ve switched to having them as my rest days. Sometimes it’s really refreshing to just do a simple switch like this. I’m looking forward to sleeping in a bit, cooking a full breakfast (eggs/ avocado toast/sausage), meditating, reading (I took a book out at the library and when I tried to renew it, I saw that someone has it on their wait list sooo…looks like I’ll be finishing it by tomorrow night!- definitely the biggest drawback to library books, but it does also get me to read more which is pretty great), and hopefully some yoga.

Last week I had a GREAT week of training, exploring, racing, and just in general. I’m finally starting to feel fitter, faster, and gaining more confidence in my goals (after a few weeks of feeling “meh”, I’m really glad that I stuck it out through them). I hit my highest mileage week since I switched to the half (46.28 miles) and have just one more week of higher mileage to go before I begin tapering?!? I know I keep saying it, but time has gone by way too fast!

Monday, 10/15: Speedwork on the treadmill. 1 mile easy to warm-up/ 2 mi @ Half Marathon goal pace (7:45), 2 min rest, 1 mile @ 10k (7:22), 2 min rest, 1 mile @ 10k (7:16), 2 min rest, 1/2 mile @ 5k (7:10), 2 min rest, 1/2 mile @ 5k (7:02), 2 min rest, 1 mi cool down. 7.54 miles total. I definitely still have some work to do on the 5k times, but otherwise felt really strong throughout and pretty pumped to have gotten it done on the treadmill (which sometimes feels harder than outside (except that it was 9* out so yeah…indoors it was!)) - also on a Monday which is HARD. 60 minute coreBarre class at lunch

Tuesday, 10/16: 5.05 miles easy @ 10:16 715’ up

Wednesday, 10/17: 7.56 miles —>7 miles easy progression miles (splits: 10:39, 10:27, 9:39, 9:30) with 4 x :30 surges 413’ up (originally planned to do 5-6, but ran out of time!). I forgot how to use my watch (eye roll) and didn’t hit it for one of my splits, so I’ve got just the four - oh well! It was also still very dark when I finished, so no photos today!

Thursday, 10/18: 4 miles easy @ 9:43 36’ up / taught skating for an hour/ 4 miles easy @ 9:57 77’ up. 30 minutes of strength. I slept in this morning because I was feeling a bit worn-out, so I had to fit my 8 miles in around running errands/ teaching skating/ strength after packing up the car… it isn’t always ideal, but we still make it work!

Friday, 10/19: REST DAY —> travel day to Lake Powell!

Saturday, 10/20: RACE DAY! 1 mile warm-up @ 11:26 (included some running drills on the grass), 13.1 miles with first 1-6 miles easy @ 8:48, miles 7-13.1 working towards Half Marathon Goal Pace avg @ 7:58. Splits: 9:16, 9:03, 8:40, 8:27, 8:58 (singletrack trail), 8:26, 7:25, 7:58, 8:02, 8:23, 8:25, 8:01, 7:32

Sunday, 10/21: 4.03 miles easy at 11:22 113’ up at Capitol Reef National Park! My legs felt a bit sluggish so I just went out without music while the sun was just beginning to rise and enjoyed the quietness of the park. I stopped to take some photos (kept my watch going) and relish in the opportunity to experience a National Park by foot! How lucky are we (runners) to see places by our feet when many others cannot? It was really nice to not care at all about the time on my watch and just be present in the moment.

Total Mileage: 46.28 miles

Total Elevation: 2, 298’ up

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Ever ran in a National Park?

Ever used a race as a workout?

Ever read How Bad Do You want it?

Library books- yay or nay?

Training Tuesday: Lake Powell Half Marathon Recap & 3 Easy Tips For Getting Faster On Your Runs!

Happy Tuesday! My Monday went by so quickly and I have a feeling that it’s going to continue to go faster until Vegas in 20 DAYS?!? How is it even possible that we’re less than 3 weeks until the race and only 2.1 weeks from when I leave?! I LOVE running the Rock ‘n Roll Vegas race - the energy is contagious, the weather has always been spectacular, and there’s just nothing else like it. After my race on Saturday, I’m feeling even more confident going into this race to achieve my goals. I’ve got my second-to-last speedwork session this morning and am so thankful that it’s finally warmer here (compared to last week’s single-digit weather)- 30* feels like a heat wave!

You can check out my race recap for the Lake Powell Half Marathon HERE.

I also wanted to share with you 3 tips that have helped me get faster over the past year or so. These are simple things that I had never really thought about before when I was running (more just for fun/ less than achieving any sort of time goal). I’d also love to hear if YOU have some easy tips that have helped you get faster. Make sure to share them in the comments below!

1. VARY your training paces. I.E. don’t just run the same paces everyday. Have a day where you run EASY (either keeping heartrate low/ being able to recite the Brady Bunch etc.) and then have one or two days a week where you vary/ play with your speed (whether that’s in tempo runs / speedwork/ surges at the end of an easy run, just try to get faster for a bit and then slow it back down!)

2. Join a running group/ class/ find a running buddy/ get a coach! I started doing the Running classes at Steamboat Pilates and immediately learned that there was something called speedwork?!? Ha. I had literally NEVER heard of this for us amateur runners out there and got so much faster by incorporating this once a week (it helped me break that sub 2 hour half marathon barrier)!

3. Try out different training plans to find the one that works for YOU. I tried out Hal Higdon’s for Revel Rockies Marathon one year, Jeff Galloway’s for Disney, and Hanson’s Marathon Method for Vegas last year - it took me awhile to find what worked best FOR ME. Everyone’s different and remembering that maybe getting a coach might be the best option for you instead of following a typical ‘run of the mill’ training plan

Tips for getting faster?!?

Favorite training plan you’ve ever followed?