Then VS Now, I'm Excited For THIS, And The Easiest/Best Lunch Ever?

Happy Friday-eve! I’m honestly most excited to do absolutely nothing this entire weekend. I kinda just want to hole-up on Saturday with a good book, hot cocoa, and some good appetizer platters (our favorite ‘Saturday afternoon snack/replacement of lunch’). I’ve been so busy (and overly stressed) at work lately that my runs have been so needed. It helps so much to just ‘zone out’ and not think about anything when running. I think sometimes that’s my favorite thing about getting out for a run. We’re in the midst of getting more snow (yay for skiing, not so yay for driving), so throwing it back to a warmer day where we could see the ground.

I’ve also forgotten how tired and hungry you are when in the midst of marathon training! I’m on week 4 of serious training and WOW my legs feel dead, I’m falling asleep on the couch at 8:30, and am feeling so unbelievably fit already (yay). Here’s to hoping all this training pays off and gets me to the start & finish line of both the Eugene Marathon & my 50 miler races strong and healthy!

Here’s to hoping I’m more in shape for my 50 miler than I was for my 50k….

My lunches for this week have been amazing. I’m not here to brag, but well…I kinda need to because it tastes SO GOOD. It’s also super easy to throw together (less than an hour prep on Sundays too!). I’m kinda one of those people that eat the same thing all the time if I like it, so I’ll probably be eating this for the next year or so. ——> Brown Rice (made a giant batch on Sunday), Green Peppers, Onion, Diced Tomato, Spinach, & Black Beans. I then top it with the most delicious salsa & guacomole. All that I’m missing is Tortilla Chips (but honestly I’ve been munching on salted almonds lately - I just leave them in my car so whenever I’m feeling hungry, I grab a handful- which helps me with any of those salty/crunchy cravings (and is much more nutrient-dense as well)!

Since the 10 Year Challenge came up on both Facebook and Instagram recently, I thought it would be fun to reflect on here!

10 years ago, I was a freshman in college. I wasn’t even a runner at this point! I was actually injured (partially torn meniscus in my knee) from a skating fall (yes, I competed in college as a figure skater)!

I was very driven in my skating, easily persuaded to try new things from new friends (hello, college!), and focused on my studies. My favorite past-times included skating (duh), studying, going out to dinner with friends, rushing in my new sorority (oh hey, Gamma Phi!), and learning what ‘going out’ on the weekends actually means (oh, how naive I was!).

I also sled along the slippery slopes of various eating disorders when I was injured. I was convinced that I would gain ‘a ton of weight’ because I was unable to skate/ train. I was also introduced to running (but it took me a few more years before I would catch ‘the bug’) from my roommate- who was part of the SU Track & Field Team!

Today, I’ve honestly grown so much and am excited to continue to grow, learn, and mature! I realize that food=fuel and that if I need to take a few days off of running, it’s not a big deal.

I’ve learned to love the outdoors- in every way, shape, and form.

I’m so glad with where my life is now and I wouldn’t change a thing. I can’t wait for what the next decade brings!

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What did your life look like 10 years ago?!

Favorite lunch food?

Favorite outdoor activity?

Feature Friday: 21 Questions I Need Answered & Another Book Review!

Wohooo it’s Friday! What a long short-week I had at work. It’s been so nice to be able to get out on my lunch break to run in the sunshine (also because it’s been way too cold to run in the early mornings) . Yesterday’s 8 miles were lovely and I’m excited to do my first ‘back to back’ longish runs today! I’ve got 12-14 miles on the schedule and will hopefully be able to run outside since it’s supposed to be a low of 10* I think? 

I’m focusing on really slowing down for my easy runs, but still getting in those hills! I climbed 500’ yesterday, but hoping to get in a bit more today!  

I thought it would be fun to list out 24 questions that I’ll answer, but I’d also love to have you answer too!  

• Where were you born? North Conway, NH 
• How old are you? 28
• Favorite day of the week? Wednesday’s  
• Favorite ‘splurge’ after a running race? A burger & sweet potato fries!  
• Favorite thing to do when tapering? Mani/ Pedi
• Favorite food? Any type of pasta & fresh rolls
• Favorite dessert? Tiramisu  
• Ocean or lake? Ocean, but I also love lake houses!  
• Mountains or beach? Mountains
• Favorite color? Buttercream yellow
• Favorite smell? Freshly roasted coffee
• Last meal on Earth? Napolian Pizza fresh in Italy  
• Favorite place you’ve traveled to? Either Yosemite or Italy!  
• Favorite season? Fall
• Favorite TV show? Gilmore Girls  
• Favorite movie? Miracle
• Last best book you’ve read? Shoe Dog by Phil Knight
• Favorite book? Marathon Woman by Kathrine Switzer
• Best song ever? Dreams by Fleetwood Mac
• Trails or Road? Trails!  
• Your favorite place to relax? In my heated blanket or outside on the trails far away from civilization  

I’ve got another book review! I loved this book by Becky Wade! She describes her year of travel to various running communities throughout the world. I loved how she described each running culture & how different they all were. It’s a fun and quick read, but I really felt like I got to know the runners along the way. Definitely a great read for anyone who loves to travel and run! 

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Give ME your 21 question answers!  

Feature Friday: An Ode To Running In The Cold

Happy Friday! Finally. This week has definitely dragged on and I’m ready for the weekend! We may try to go skiing at Winter Park tomorrow (I’ve never been there!), but still waiting to see how Alex’s back is feeling (it’s been bothering him since last weekend, nothing too serious but obviously still painful). I have some easy miles on the schedule this weekend, but otherwise nothing too crazy to do! Maybe also making some chex mix because I’ve been craving it! I’m hiking up the ski mountain this morning to get in some awesome cross training and fun (more-so on the ski down the mountain! ; ) ….). I also stayed up super late last night to finish my library book (I had 80 pages left and can’t renew it again at the library)- totally worth it because it finally started to get REALLY good.

Flashback to yesterday mornings’ very early strength & 7 mile run on the treadmill. I used to go to the gym EVERY morning Mon-Friday for so many years and then switched up my schedule since the MS Run The US relay last Spring. It was a really nice change, but I also really missed waking up early and seeing my “gym people”! Anyone else feel this way or just me?

Since it has been SO cold here (3* yesterday morning at 8am?!?), I thought I’d give you a nice little breakdown of how running in the cold feels for me. I’d love to know your thoughts on winter running in the comments below too!

Pre-Run: Time to brace yourself for the cold. Break out all those layers. Pop in some hand and foot warmers. Fill those water bottles up with hot water so they are less-likely to freeze. Go pee before adding on all those layers because there’s no way you’re going to peel them off until after you’re done. You’re on lockdown at this point. There’s no turning back- time to head out into the cold.

Early Miles: Yeah, this isn’t so bad. So glad I added on that fourth down layer. I feel pretty great. I can’t believe I thought this run would suck. *slips on hidden black ice* Ok, don’t get ahead of yourself. Careful, carefullll…. Maybe I should slow my pace down a bit, how fast am I going anyways (looks at watch in utter-debelief. Wow, I thought I was going really fast, but actually I don’t remember ever going this slow)?!?

Later Miles: Wow I am seriously SWEATING! Whose idea was it to wear all these layers anyways?!? I’m so glad that this run has taken twice as long as I was anticipating because otherwise my lashes wouldn’t be frozen and I would still be able to feel my fingers and toes. Are my legs still even moving? Am I ever going to reach home?!?

Post- run: I’m hot, but I’m cold. I can’t wait to officially burn my skin off in a steaming hot shower. Also where is the hot cocoa?! *looks outside* wow it really is coming down out there! Who in their right mind would ever brave those elements?!? Oh right, me!

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Do you ever stay up way too late to read a good book?

Thoughts on winter running?

Going to the gym- love it, hate it, or tolerate it?

Three things you’re doing this weekend? —-> definitely skiing somewhere, baking something, consuming ample amount of hot cocoa, and making homemade pizza tonight!

Pre-Race Vegas Recap & WHICH IS BETTER?!?!?

Friday is tomorrow and I cannot wait for the weekend. It was a short week for me, but it honestly felt like those 3 days were actually more like 10 or more… Saturday will be a complete lazy day for me. I actually aspire to not change out of my sweats the entire day. I also will be reading more of my new Library book Shoe Dawg by Phil Knight and I’m completely obsessed with this book.

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I figured the next best way to get me through the rest of this week (besides staying on vacation) was to recap my trip for you! So here’s recap of what we did leading up to the 5k. I’ll have a 5k recap for you tomorrow and 13.1 recap for you on Monday. I flew into Las Vegas Wednesday morning and got there around 10:30. My mom & gram flew into the airport around 11:30 that morning so I did a lot of people-watching at the baggage claim waiting for them to arrive. Then it was straight to get the rental car & then the nearest In-N-Out.

YUM. So tasty. I’m not sure if it’s better than Five Guys, but it certainly tasted really good. We then drove 4 hours to Grand Canyon- South Rim and thanks to the time-change (daylight savings + Grand Canyon being in AZ), we arrived there after dark around 5:30. Boo. We were all pretty exhausted so we went to bed early and then got up the next morning for a run (my mom & I did).

Running in the Grand Canyon (we did the Rim Trail, which spans over 7 miles one way?!?) was SO beautiful. It was not a pancake-flat run, but oh so beautiful. I cannot get over these run views!

Our stay at the Kachina Lodge was perfect (the Rim is literally out the front door of the lodge), but parking for it was really challenging (especially arriving there in the dark). We drove around several times before we found where we needed to check-in and then drove around some more to find a parking spot.

After our run, we walked over the Canyon edge and saw a baby fox just curled up on the ledge! How cute is he?!?

We also did the Desert View Drive, which I can’t recommend enough. So many great viewpoints and also apparently you may see a Mountain Lion?!?

I had never been to the Watchtower on Desert View Drive and it was so beautiful! Not just the views, but really the history itself really interested me.

We drove back to Vegas Thursday late afternoon and checked into our hotel, the Flamingo. At first I was a bit hesitant on switching to a different hotel this year, but I really liked the Flamingo. The casino itself didn’t smell as cigarette-smoky as others and the rooms had recently been renovated. They had a great flat screen TV, shower was awesome, and the location itself along the strip was great (especially close to the finish line of the 10k/half/full marathon).

On Friday, we went to the Expo (I’ll include the recap of that tomorrow with 5k recap), returned the rental car, went to the Premium North Outlets (didn’t see much to purchase), and then went to see Celine Dion in concert!

I’ve been a HUGE fan of Celine since I was maybe 9 or 10 so it was amazing to see her perform live. I was so excited that I actually TEARED UP when she started singing?!? Anyone else ever get emotional when they heard their childhood favorite artist (or just favorite artist in general) perform?!

Also sporting my $10 jacket that I scored at the Gap Outlet that morning!

Also my mom looks like she isn’t a day over 40?!?!

We slept in on Saturday and prepped for the 5k!

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In-N-Out or Five Guys?

Favorite childhood singer or artist?

What are you currently reading?

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