Self Love-> Building Up Your Self Confidence: Three Things To Do Today

OK. I’m starting two new mini blog series this week and today is the first one! These will run through until the beginning of December and Thursdays will be dedicated to SELF LOVE. I think it’s so important that we acknowledge our self love and also continue to BUILD IT UP. I know that it’s something that I continually struggle with- some days it’s totally “there” and I feel like I’m on top of the world and other days it is a real STRUGGLE just to find one thing that I’m good at.

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I believe that it’s important to acknowledge both the hard days and easy days. I also believe in the power of feeling vulnerable. I feel most vulnerable when I’m on the edge of a really big breakthrough and have slowly come to realize that if I just push myself a tad bit further then I will grow and succeed and become a more confident person.

It’s so challenging to push past your comfort zone. Also why is it so challenging to LOVE ourselves?

I know I constantly give other people compliments, but when it comes to myself I struggle somedays to see anything beyond my flaws.

That’s why I’m doing this mini-series. Mainly just to benefit me. I want to check in and let you know how I’m feeling. What I’M doing to build up my self-confidence. How it’s going- the good and bad days.

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So, first thing I’m doing TODAY to build up my confidence is creating a note for myself. I came across two key words that are really powerful to ME. I actually came up with them while out on a run (ha)- which is generally when I get my most brillant ideas. Or they come to me at like 4am when I haven’t even had any coffee yet. I wrote down my phrases as “I AM” because that is SUPER POWERFUL WORDS (now I kinda feel like Rachel Hollis ha). I put my note in the bathroom where I brush my teeth. Each time I’m in there I glance at my phrases and repeat them to myself while brushing my teeth/washing my face/etc.

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The second thing I’m doing is repeating these phrases to myself as much as possible throughout the day. Maybe it’s while I’m on a run, maybe it’s while I’m getting ready for the day, or when I’m cooking lunch/dinner/breakfast. Whatever time of day it is, I repeat them to myself often!

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The third thing I’m doing is squashing those negative thoughts as often as possible. If I’m struggling to remember my phrases, I just try to think of SOMETHING positive that happened to me today. Maybe it’s I got out of bed, maybe it’s I put makeup on, maybe it’s I rocked an exam. Whatever it is, I remind myself that hey- yeah I am a rockstar at that thing and maybe I can also acknowledge that I’m a rockstar at other areas of my life.

My goal is to not let myself go a day without acknowledging something positive about myself. I want to give MYSELF compliments! Because you know what? I’m worth it and you are too. Ok, that’s enough sounding like Rachel Hollis for one day. I hope if you needed to hear that today, then it hit home for you.

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What’s your power phrases?

What’s three things you totally rocked TODAY? -> I ran 9 miles despite it being a ‘Bomb Cyclone’ outside today, Made a killer breakfast, and booked Alex a ‘very much needed’ haircut for tonight!

Loco Marathon Training RUNdown Week 11: 10/7-10/13

It was a BUSY week last week and I finally got a bit of a break this past Monday/Tuesday from schoolwork/ working/ commuting/running. It was MUCH needed. Last week was my big ‘peak week’ before the marathon! It’s so crazy to me how quickly the past 13 weeks have gone and it’s even crazier to me how well-executed it went! This is my first race that I actually ‘marathon trained specifically for’ in over 2 years and I’m really excited to see how well I can execute this race coming up! It’s all about recovery, rest, and mainly easy miles from here until race day. Let’s recap last week’s 55 miles! Also side note: I’m really excited that I can finally start to put my hair up in a nice bun on top of my head again- it’s been so long!

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Monday, 10/7: 1 mile warm up / 12 x 400m (400 R) (7:20/ 6:59/ 7:05/ 7:22/ 7:01/ 7:07/ 6:59/ 6:54/ 7:21/ 7:07/7:06/ 7:04)/ 1 mile cool down & strength

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Tuesday, 10/8: 6 easy miles 9:40 pace

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Wednesday, 10/9: 7 easy miles at 9:59 pace & strength

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Thursday, 10/10: 20 miles! Executed well with a negative split and a fast 800 at mile 19 of the run.

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Friday, 10/11: 2 mile hike with Stella! Rest day otherwise.

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Saturday, 10/12: 7 easy miles at 9:56 pace after working all day. Woof. That was hard.

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Sunday, 10/13: 7 easy morning miles before another full workday

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-Anyone else in the taper right now or coming up on peak week? How’re you feeling? Have the ‘taper crazies’ hit you yet?!?

7 Things

I kicked off the weekend with a whole ‘lotta carbs —> AKA giant blueberry pancakes.

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Alex went to Vermont to spend time with his parents while his dad is in the hospital (he is doing better, but could still use your good thoughts), so that meant it was just a Stella and me weekend (along with the cats) SO we went on a hike Friday. The foliage right now is just the best.

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I worked a lot this weekend and in my “free time” AKA early in the morning and late afternoon/evening I did some running and studying. Brady decided to do the weekend right and just relaxed.

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I finished both of my school books and am so excited to get back to ‘reading for pleasure’ books. I will definitely also be re-reading How Bad Do You Want It by Matt Fitzgerald to gear-up for my marathon next weekend! I also have been recently obsessed with avocado toast and hot sauce on my eggs for either breakfast or lunch. SO good.

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I’ve also really been loving taking Stella for a cool-down walk post run. I put some Chocolate Almond Milk in my Yeti Tumbler to feel all fancy and also got this super cute fleece tech headband from Buff to test out (as being a Bib Rave Pro!). I’ll report back when I’ve been able to test it out on at least 10 runs.

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I’m also really excited to see these stats on my Garmin. Time to soak up all the taper-goodness to put this into fruition!

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I’m also really loving this creamer lately! I’ve missed having good quality Almond Milk creamer for the past few months!

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Favorite kind of creamer in your coffee?

How was your weekend?

Anyone else loving the Fall Foliage right now?!? It’s SO beautiful here!

Loco Marathon Training RUNdown Week 10: 9/30-10/6

Running a day late for this post, but here we are! Last week was extremely busy and stressful in almost every aspect of my life, so I was grateful that it was a ‘cut-back’ week in regards to running. I was very thankful to get in those runs because they helped my stress, but also happy that it took less time than other weeks.

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Monday, 9/30- 2 x 2 mile repeats (paces: 7:46, 8:36, 8:26, 7:45) and strength

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Tuesday, 10/1- 5 easy miles at 10:04 pace

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Wednesday, 10/2- 30 minutes elliptical and strength

Thursday, 10/3- 10 easy miles at 10:00 pace

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Friday, 10,4- 10 easy miles at 10:22 pace and strength

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Saturday, 10/5- 4.14 easy miles at 10:52 pace

Sunday, 10/6- Rest Day

Total Miles: 35.4 miles

Total Elevation: 1, 063’ up