Eugene Marathon/50 Miler Training Week 9: 2/18-2/24

Happy Hump Day! I’ve felt a bit of a cold coming on, so I’ve opted to get the majority of my runs this week in the afternoon (so I can get more sleep). I was still on the fence on whether to get my 8 miles at marathon pace in the morning (on the treadmill) or try to get it in this afternoon (it could be sleeting)- so still up in the air as of last night! I WILL be getting it in regardless though. I’m also getting my haircut today! I was still trying to decide if I should get some bangs (they looked so cute on me in High School, but are also a super pain-in-the-butt!), but I’m definitely excited to get some fresh highlights (it’s been since October!) and shorter hair again. Photos to come tomorrow ; )

Last week really tested my patience with the weather. It was in the negatives every.single.morning and a high of low 20s the entire week. I had a crazy busy work/personal life week, so mornings were the only time I could run (for the most part), so I was on the treadmill a bunch (hoping to only be on it ONCE this week!). Not ideal- but do what you can right?

Monday, 2/18: 5 miles easy on the home treadmill while catching up on the news.

Tuesday, 2/19: 1.5 mile warm up / 8 miles at goal marathon pace (8:15) / 1.5 mile cool down. 11 miles & strength. Felt really good even after getting kicked off the treadmill for 10 minutes. Gotta love the 6AM treadmill rush that lasts 10-15 minutes. Sigh.

Wednesday, 2/20: 6.5 miles on the ‘mill. Normally I try to break up my goal marathon paced miles & speedwork, but this week was funky and this is when I had time. SO I did the repeats mainly on an incline (same benefits as a faster pace, but less strain on your body).

Thursday, 2/21: 13 miles in the morning on the ‘mill & then had a unexpected free afternoon, so decided to just go for the remaining 7 miles to get 20 for the day! Happy to get some afternoon miles outside : ) Plus some strength afterwards.

Friday, 2/22: 9.37 miles in a BLIZZARD in the morning (I didn’t think it was supposed to snow?!?). I took it slow because I was TIRED and it was icy (didn’t have my spikes). I ended up cutting it short in the morning and then got in the remaining 6.63 in the afternoon on the treadmill (still super icy out), which felt MUCH better. 16 miles for the day.

Saturday, 2/23: REST DAY! Completely lounged and it was amazing.

Sunday, 2/24: REST DAY! Went snowshoeing, did some strength, and a bunch of stretching.

Total Mileage: 58.5 miles!

Total Elevation: 2, 122’ up

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Also LOVING this new shirt I got from Oiselle.

THIS cream cheese (almond milk!) tastes amazing.

It’s finally warm enough here to wear just ONE layer on top & bottom! YAY! Does this mean Spring is coming?!?

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How’s your week going?

What’s the weather where you are?

Favorite ways to pass the time on the ‘mill?

Training Tuesday: How My Past Has Prepared Me For My Future

Happy Tuesday! I’m so glad that Monday is behind us and also that it’s a recovery week for me. I have two hard ‘workouts’ on tap this week (tomorrow morning with 8 miles @ goal marathon pace & then Friday afternoon  with 3 x 1 mile @ 7:20-6:50ish pace) and then 3 easy runs and that is all! It’s refreshing to have these weeks, where I’m 100% focused on recovery (i.e. getting my hair cut tomorrow and a massage booked ; ) , along with ample sleep). I also really love to train hard because it helps push me beyond what I believe are my capabilities.

Maybe you already know this by now, but I love to reflect when I’m running (anyone else there like to do this?). I know so many that say ‘don’t look back or don’t compare’, which normally I AGREE with, however with International Women’s Day coming up on March 8th - it got me thinking how grateful I am to have so much in my life and to have the ability to train hard every day. My parents sacrificed so much for me to be able to participate in sports growing up. Not only was I introduced to the great outdoors, but I learned how hard work and determination can help you reach your goals. I learned that with team work, you can achieve more than you would have just on your own.

TBT to my second-ever ice show. Those Annie-costumes were amazing and that is still one of my favorite songs. Also they put in pink. If only I had known how to pose in photos properly..

Way before I began running, I was super into figure skating. A very individual sport. I would train at 5:30 in the morning before school, after school, and on the weekends. I would travel over an hour to get to my coach several times a week and often sacrifice social events to prioritize my training and schoolwork. I loved how skating made me feel-

When I was on the ice, I felt free to be creative.

Strong even when I was falling. Resilient even when I didn't get the placement I wanted.

Being able to engage myself in skating gave me the confidence to pursue so many other opportunities outside of the rink.

TBT to when I would get my hair done for ice shows and feel like a queen for a few hours. It was amazing. I wish I had a reason these days to get my hair done ‘just because’

When I arrived to Syracuse (the first barrier that skating helped me break- I’m a first-generation college student!), I honestly had a hard time transitioning. It was a BIG school and I had lived a pretty sheltered life until then. I had never had friends who criticized their bodies or called themselves ‘fat’. I always appreciated my body for all that it did for me and never looked to food as somethings ‘bad’ for you. But WOW does college sure open your eyes to so many things! Unfortunately these thoughts started to hit me pretty hard and I no longer had skating in the same way that I had growing up. I still competed on the Synchronized Skating Team and trained when I could on my own, but once the negative seeds had been planted- there really was no turning back. I waviered through my college years; however my confidence was still pretty high (in some aspects). I guess that’s why I took on so many leadership roles and ended up taking something crazy like 18-20 credits per semester (WHO WAS I?!?). I also started to create those ‘bucketlist’ items - which is how I found myself running towards my first half marathon finish line.

LOVED these tights! I legit wore them for YEARS. I can’t find them anymore, but these are similar.

At the time, I had no idea how much an impact running would later make on my life. It’s funny how something that seems ‘impossible’ provides the most satisfaction when you achieve it. Finishing this race really boosted my confidence and gave me the strength that I had lost for a few years - I began to seek down opportunities that really terrified me.

I began exploring the outdoors.

I started hiking and camping by myself. When accomplishing these things, I felt strong. When others would question my plans or suggest that it wasn’t the best ‘idea’ to hike on my own- I was propelled to do it even more.

I began to stop questioning myself and then I started running more. I ran my first marathon and the confidence that came with checking off that accomplishment was incredible. I became hungrier to explore the outdoors and see everything that I could by foot.

This was a BIG breakthrough moment for me. I had never had the confidence to just ‘wear a sports bra’ out in public. Running gave me the opportunity to view my body in a positive way. You can find similar bras here. Also Mooney Falls is a MUST SEE.

I try to imagine what my life would be like if I didn’t have the opportunity to participate in sports like skating or running. If I didn’t have the encouragement and barriers already broken by other strong women (thanks to my Mom, Grandmother, Michelle Obama, K.V. Switzer, Michelle Kwan to name a few!) in my life to pursue crazy goals - none of what I’ve accomplished would be possible. It’s incredible to imagine where I’ve come from, but I still believe that we have more to go.

I will never take for granted the opportunity to explore the outdoors by foot. Not everyone is as fortunate and for that, I am grateful. Another thing that I’m also grateful for? Backpacks that hold all your crap and look cute. I’m currently adding these to my wishlist.

I’m fired up and ready to tackle some really big (SCARY) goals this year in 2019.

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Tell me- what barriers has someone else broken down to help you become who you are today?

What barriers are you LOOKING to break down?

What has the ability to participate in sports given you?

Weekend Recap

Happy Monday & happy recovery week to me! I ran 58.5 miles last week over 5 days, so I took both Saturday & Sunday off of running (I normally stick to ~10% increase in mileage per week) to not increase my weekly mileage too much. I really didn’t feel too sore or tired (yet-it could still be coming!), but I have been so hungry! I think I’ve averaged something like 5 meals per day ha. So forgive me if there are too many food photos in here! 

Flashback to Friday mornings 9.37 mile run in a blizzard (it definitely was NOT supposed to snow?!?)  

Saturday I was supposed to teach skiing, but they ended up not needing me so I took advantage and completely lounged in the afternoon. I watched Gilmore Girls, ate candy while reading, did my nails, watched the Syracuse Men’s Basketball game (they ALMOST won!!) 

Made homemade Chicken Pot Pie (yum! ) Pinterest win!  

Went snowshoeing on Sunday

Took Brady outside to explore the snow. He wasn’t overly impressed, but he was happy with how this photo turned out.  

Family afternoon cuddles under blankets while reading. I also got in a bunch of stretching & strength.  

Then I taught skating and got to bed by 8:30!  

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Whats your favorite candy? I tried Red Vines this weekend and wasn’t overly impressed  

How was your weekend?!? 

Favorite comfort food?  

Stressed About Everything And My Top FIVE Favorite Pump-Up Songs!

Happy Friday-eve! How’s the week going for you? I’ve honestly had better, but know that on Sunday it will all (mostly) subside. I’ve honestly just been on the struggle stress bus for a while now. I’ve tried to keep my stress at bay (meditating, sleeping, good nutrition, yoga, reading a good book - which these all definitely HELP for sure), but it is still so present and weighing on me. By now I would normally pull-back from something to ease it, but I’m almost done teaching skiing and my skating calendar is lighter for the month of March so I’m staying optimistic that these things will decrease my stress. Work is extremely stressful right now and honestly I just wish there was something I could do about it. You know that something needs to change when you physically dread going somewhere every morning and unfortunately that is where I’m at at the moment. Looking at this face helps.

Journaling has also really been helping me lately just write down all my thoughts and purge everything on my mind at the moment. My right eye has been twitching for what only seems like a million years and when I get too stressed out, I tend to isolate myself (which I KNOW isn’t good for me, but I do it anyways). I get real crabby and hate to be even around myself. I’m a work in progress and I think it’s a big step for me to just acknowledge how I’m feeling (even if I’m not at the point of acting on it yet).

It’s so funny to me to hear so many reports these days on how ‘millennials are the most stressed generation’, ‘most anxious generation’, ‘we spend 20 percent of our year stressed’ and yet, these reports are making me even MORE stressed out! I would be lying if I said that all of my stress stems from my work, but that’s really the only one that I’m able to talk openly about at the moment (life stress & financial stress are two others). Until I figure things out, I guess I’ll continue to find those moments of peace while journaling, meditating, and doing yoga (oh, and running helps too!). I’m really loving my goal marathon paced runs and long runs because they give me either 1. more time to work through my stressors or 2. run faster and leave it all in the dust (or well…I feel like I am!).

PLUS running to music is my ‘guilty pleasure’ and these are my favorite songs right now to just really run it all out.

SOURCE

1. Glorious By Macklemore ft. Skylar Grey

2. Wild Horses By Bishop Briggs

3. Wings By Mac Miller

4. Litost by X Ambassadors (it’s a slow song, but I just love it for my cool down!)

5. 7 Rings By Ariana Grande

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Favorite way to de-stress?

We need a new movie to watch this weekend- any recommendations?! We LOVED Bohemian Rhapsody!

How many cups of coffee is considered ‘too much’? Asking for a friend….

Post-Run Recovery And Why It's So Important

Happy Tuesday! SO we’re officially back to winter this week (or well until at least probably March it looks like…). Mid 20’s are the high and negatives/ very low single digits until infinity. This is also my last PEAK mileage week before recovery next week. So while I know I’ll be super busy (and also on the treadmill more than usual), I know that spring is just around the corner AND that it doesn’t matter where I get my runs in, just that I still put in the effort. I’m ready to tackle the challenge. Just hoping it stays remotely warm-enough on Friday morning for my first 20 miler of this training cycle! Wohooo. I’ll be getting 36 miles over Thursday/Friday and am switching up my rest day to Sunday this week (normally I have it on Wednesdays) because it just works better with my work schedule this week. Here’s to hoping I don’t need to be THIS bundled up for my run on Friday!

With my increased mileage, I’ve really been focusing on recovery. Whether you believe in active recovery days or complete rest days (I’m somewhere in between normally- I like to do something, but nothing that requires much effort). Some of my favorite ways to spend a recovery are swimming, getting a massage, or doing yoga.

When you train hard, your body begins to breakdown to adapt to the continual stress. When you recover, it gives your body time to repair those muscles. When you don’t take recovery seriously, you put yourself at an increased risk of injury, illness, or burn-out (among other things). Luckily there ARE things you can be doing to help speed-up that recovery process (and help your body get ready for your next run or big workout)! I also found a lot of great information in this article by Runner’s World.

Here are some of my favorite ways to boost recovery (whether post-run or ON my recovery days)!

-Drink a lot of water and replenish any electrolytes. Think of water as the means to turn your muscles from ice to snow. It gives them their fluidity after you’ve been running with them for an extended period of time.

-Refuel with real food. 4 to 1 ratio of carbs to protein. I’ve been focusing more and more on refueling immediately after my run and I think it helps so much. You really need to plan-ahead post-run, but doing-so will help your body recover and decrease your risk of any sort of injury or illness. Dark Chocolate Almond Milk is one of my favorites or PB on Toast with Honey and blueberries or bananas.

-Epsom Salt Bath or Ice Bath. Ice baths are amazing to decrease the inflammation in your muscles, but honestly I have such a hard time taking one (I’m always SO cold). So, I generally apply ice to any problem areas I have (normally my plantar & knee) and will then hop into a hot Epsom Salt Bath after stretching.

-Stretch! I used to overlook stretching (I know, I know…shame on me), but now I take a few minutes to stretch post-run (no matter whether I’m running late or not!) and also stretch before going to bed every night. I haven’t had one niggle this training cycle thus far, so I think it’s helping!

-Yoga. I love JasYoga (they have a few free videos on YouTube that I love) and their running-specific videos.

-Get out for a walk. Ultrarunner extraordinaire, Karl Meltzer, takes his dogs for an hour long walk every morning (even post 100 mile races!). I think that says the importance of getting out and moving everyday even for an hour.

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What are some tips you’d add?

What are YOUR favorite ways to spend a recovery day?