What My Off-Season Training Looks Like

If you’ve been following along with me even a little bit you know that I never really DO ‘off season’. I’m a big goal-oriented person and well, I just like to plan! So it’s very rare when I DON’T have something on the schedule (I.e right now!).

I’m always interested in what others do during their off season so thought I’d share what I’m doing and maybe you can comment below on what you’re doing!

I’m trying to focus mainly on strength, flexibility, and trying new things. SO I tried some Pure Barre on demand last week. It totally kicked my butt and I’m here for it 🙌🏻

I’ve done a bunch of 3 or 4 mile walks with Stella.

I’ve started hiking on the treadmill. Normally I’ll aim for 30 minutes at 5-10% incline 💪🏻

I’ve also just started a new JasYoga 2 week trail membership and am LOVING every online class I’ve done thus far.

I’m also just enjoying playing around with my diet and not having any specific goals! I love that I’ve got a clean slate in front of me

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what do you love to do in the off season?!

Training Tuesday: HOMEMADE Long Run Fuel Recipe!

Happy Tuesday! It’s BEEN A DAY. We got a crazy amount of ice and snow last night and I still had my clinical this morning (all the schools close to where we live got cancelled, but not where my campus/clinical is held), so I had to commute! My drive took AN HOUR longer than it should have and I was late and yeah…it was most certainly the Monday-ist Tuesday I’ve had in quiet some time. I can’t wait to get home tonight and do a total “day reset”. Flashback to this cute photo I took with Maples a few months ago.

I thought it would be fun to share with you the recipe I use from Run Fast Cook Fast Eat Slow cookbook for their Energy Squeeze Marathon Fuel. I ended up using this for my last race day and had ZERO gut issues! It really worked so well for me. I highly recommend picking up a copy of this cookbook because every recipe I’ve had in it is amazing.

1/2 cup mashed sweet potato

1/2 cup finely chopped dates

2 tablespoons peanut butter

1 teaspoon chia seeds

1/8 teaspoon high-quality sea salt

I put each individual serving (this recipe gives you three servings total) in a ziploc bag and carry it with me on the run (or pop it in my car to pick-up while out on my long run).

I like to alternate an energy squeeze with a 1/2 of a banana.

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What’s your favorite gel to have on the run? Anyone else ever tried to make their own?

7 Things

I kicked off our weekend with a 4 mile walk with Stella. Amazingly, she held up really well and actually seemed to love it! I’m also equally excited that I’m finally able to put my hair up in a crazy-high messy bun. I know it’s not flattering, but it’s taken me almost a year to get it to this point!

Friday night we decided to treat ourselves to a nice dinner at White Mountain Cider Co. I’ve been wanting to try their dinner for years now and it did NOT disappoint! It was so good. We ended up doing a few appetizers, a salad, and then a delicious dessert. The meat and cheese platter was incredible.

But honestly, nothing beat this desert. Warm Apple Cider Donuts, Vanilla Ice Cream, and Caramel Sauce. It. Was. Amazing. Kinda also wish that I had my own portion ; )

We then told Brady that we were going to try Vegan for a week and he was very un-impressed.

We ended up watching The Game Changers Documentary on Netflix (I actually watched it twice because Alex was away at his parents Saturday night) and it really did change my entire perspective on our diet. I’m technically one ‘full day’ in (Saturday morning I realized that my ‘non-dairy creamer’ I had been using actually HAD dairy in it?!?) and already feel like I have way more energy throughout the day and my sleep has felt better too. I had this pizza Saturday night and it was honestly SO good. Like, maybe better than other non-vegan frozen pizzas I’ve had?!

My mom is also away at a Wedding this weekend in Austin, so I offered to check in on her cat (my old cat!). She still remembers me. Gosh, aren’t animals just the best mood picker-uppers?!

And started my new tradition of beginning my mornings with yoga, meditation, and journaling on Saturday. I really love this new habit since I’ve still got two more weeks off of running! While I definitely miss lacing up and getting sweaty, I’m also really enjoying just trying new things and having more flexibility in my day.

I’ve got the day off school because it’s Veteran’s Day (THANK YOU to all of our Veterans out there for sacrificing their lives for us!) and the weather is supposed to turn to snow/ice later so I’m getting as much school work done as I can and then hoping to do more meal prep for the week ahead.

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-What does your ‘day off’ look like? Are you working?

-Any vegans out there? What recipes are your favorite?

-What’s the weather like where you are?

Figure Friday: How To Stop While Skating

Happy Friday! We’re back (at the moment ha) to our regularly scheduled Figure Fridays!

Find this weeks ‘How To’ Instructional Video HERE - How To Stop!

Last week was honestly a doozy. I ended catching my cold, I had a huge exam to take on Saturday, worked over 25 hours at my 3 jobs, and had a final paper due for one of my classes. I’m just holding on, keeping my head down, and hoping that I make it to the end in the next four weeks. It’s kinda nice to not have to think about running any crazy races right now because I don’t think I would even be able to focus on it! I do really miss the stress-relief that running provides me, but two more weeks off before I’m lacing back up. I also know that taking the time now will help get me to the start line injury free at the Providence Marathon in May! I really do miss these views.

I mainly am taking a month off from running because it’s been YEARS since I’ve last taken any time off! I always say that I’m going to take 2 weeks off, but always end up coming back after one week. So, this time I’m STICKING to it and trying out new things! I’ve been doing a trail subscription of Pure Barre this week and am going to try out other online fitness classes (since we have none where I am at the moment!) for the next few weeks. It’s been fun to be sore after 15-20 minutes of strength/body work and know that this will make me a better runner in the future. It’s also been really fun to think really big about what my goals for 2020 can be. I’ve had a million different ones swirling around in my mind and while I haven’t made any concrete decisions yet, there are a few that I’m really interested in! Flashback to running in Eugene- so much fun to travel to races!

I also wanted to share with you some goodies about my current training that I’m doing to prepare myself for the start line in Spring 2020:

*Stretching more often

*Getting in QUALITY strength training sessions 4-5x/week!

*Breaking out that foam roller

*Focusing on my nutrition- I love to balance out some treats with also some really good wholesome meals! (cue RFCFES Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie baking spree ; ) …….)

*SLEEP!

*Meditate & Journal- I’m all about that self-care!

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I also wanted to make sure to share with you the discount code for the Bahamas Marathon in January 2020! Register before TOMORROW to save 15% off with the code MBSpecial HERE . I was planning to go to this race, but unfortunately student budget & family has taken top priority at the moment, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take advantage of the deal and then TELL ME ALL ABOUT IT. I’ve never been to the Bahamas and hope to one day!

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Favorite things to do on the ‘off season’?

Ever tried figure skating before?

Ever ran a race in another country?! How’d it go?!?

Self Love: Favorite Ways To Give Back To ME

One of my favorite ways to show myself some self love to do SOMETHING THAT I LOVE. Sometimes that means relaxing in Epsom Salt Bath with some hot tea/cocoa/ coffee and Gilmore Girls.

You probably also know how much I love to explore the outdoors. Whether it’s on gravel

Or on snowshoes in the winter! Side note: can’t wait to explore trails here in New England this winter.

Reading really good books is also one of my favorite ways to de-stress and make time for myself.

Kitty cuddles and enjoying a cup of hot cocoa is also pretty grand. adds hot cocoa mix and mini marshmallows to my grocery shopping list

Sometimes a really good pint of Ben & Jerrys also works.

Signing up for really scary running goals and then accomplishing them is one of the most powerful feelings ever. Also knowing when you have had too much or can no longer finish something then honoring yourself and backing away is important too.

And the thing that I’m loving the most right now? 5 minutes of meditation and journaling in the morning before the day begins. I love to get my thoughts out there, set intentions for the day, and just have a few moments to collect myself. Sometimes it doesn’t happen and that’s OK, but when it does- I consider this one of my most powerful ways to give back to ME.

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What are your favorite ways to show yourself some self-care and self-love?