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?

Eugene Marathon/ 50 Miler Training RUNdown Week 3 1/7-1/13

Humpday! How’s your week going so far?!? I can’t believe I’m FOUR WEEKS into training for Eugene/ my 50 miler! I’m honestly loving the blend of the two training plans. I’ve got some speed in there, but also some longer runs where pace doesn’t matter so much. I’m continuing to build up my elevation profile slowly so as to not get injured and trying to fit in some cross training at least once a week. Last week was a bit warmer, so I was able to get in most of my runs outside, but this week we’re back down into the negatives in the mornings so I anticipate most of my runs will be on the treadmill and that’s OK. Treadmill runs are still helpful and in the winter, they’re pretty necessary for me to get in any sort of speedwork (most of our roads are still icy that I need to wear my stabil-icers, which I just do not trust when increasing my speed). I always err on the side of caution in the winter rather than slip on ice because I want to be running into my 90s!

Monday, 1/7: 5.12 miles easy 11:24 pace with 678’ up. 1/2 mile swim at lunch! Had to run through ~3 inches of snow since they hadn’t plowed yet. Definitely a great cross-training for my ultra! Slowed down my pace since I felt really tired this morning and worked on my breathing. If it started to feel hard, then I slowed down. I’m all about listening to my body now especially with a speedwork session on tap the next day.

Tuesday, 1/8: 8 miles! 1.5 mi warm-up, 8 x 600 (7:21 pace worked down to last one at 6:58 pace), 1.5 mi cool-cown & strength. Fit this in on the treadmill. Had to hope around on a few treadmills to get it done, but felt in control and nothing too challenging.

Wednesday, 1/9: Rest day! Fit in some yoga to stretch it all out.

Thursday, 1/10: 8 miles easy & strength. Had to piece this run together throughout the day (due to it being something like 3* outside in the morning and too cold for anything beyond a mile) then a few miles before teaching skating and then a few miles after teaching skating. Sometimes you just gotta make it work with what you have!

Friday, 1/11: 13.05 miles at a steady-state pace 9:24 603’ up! Planned to get in anywhere between 12-14 miles and felt really good with this one. All finished before 7:30am too!

Saturday, 1/12: skied all day! Legs were exhausted, but got in 4.25 very easy miles at 11:03 pace on the treadmill & strength training.

Sunday, 1/13: 9 miles- 1.5 mi warm-up/ 6 miles @ goal marathon effort (8:15 actual)/ 1.5 mi cool-down & lotsa stretching/ soaked in the hot springs post-run

Total Mileage: 47.42 miles

Total Elevation Gain: 1, 359’ up

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Where are you able to run most of the time in the winter?

Do you have an indoor track that you can do your speedwork?! —> If so, I’m JEALOUS!

What are you currently training for?! How’s it going??

I Can't Wait For This, A New Tradition, & Effort vs Pace?

Happy Friday-eve! While I anticipated that this week was going to move at snail-speed, I honestly cannot believe that tomorrow is Friday. I can’t wait for the weekend- we’re planning to go ski at a new-to-me mountain here in Colorado! Yay! I love a good adventure. I’m also equally excited for Spring- it’s felt warm(er) here (aka it’s getting to the low 30’s during the day here) and I can’t wait to get out on some trails to explore again! Spring races cannot come soon enough. Plus, I also can’t wait to not take an extra 15 minutes putting on all layers, shoe cleats, mittens, hats, hand-warmers. Going out for an early morning winter run takes so much work. Honestly that’s why I also really love the treadmill in the winter- ha. It’s so freeing to just run with shorts and a t-shirt.

I have incorporated a new habit before my harder weekday runs- getting up a bit earlier to enjoy some coffee while watching the news and cuddling under my heated blanket. It really is so fantastic and honestly worth it to get up a bit earlier. Anyone else do this or am I just crazy getting up at 4am rather than 4:30 just to snuggle downstairs instead of in my bed?

I also hit all of my paces on my speedwork on Tuesday and have a 6-mile goal marathon pace effort run this morning with a 1.5 mile warm-up and 1.5 mile cool-down. I’ve switched my mentality from having it be a “pace-specific” run to an “effort-specific” run because maybe it’s icy outside or maybe there’s a few hills or maybe I’m just a bit off today, BUT if I’m still getting to the effort (aka what marathon pace should feel like with my body) then I consider it a success. It’s all about working on that mindset for me this training cycle. Plus I’m reading this book (finally got it after being on the library waitlist for over 7 weeks!) and loving how she describes building her confidence.

Alex and I had a lunch date yesterday at Winona’s (they literally have the BEST buffalo chicken salad in town) and it was amazing. We used to do this all the time when we first started dating, but since living together it hasn’t been as often. I’m so glad we got to enjoy their salads again.

Also Stella had a very healthy lunch yesterday as well.

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Marathon Pace vs marathon effort- what do you think?

Best lunch spot where you live?

What’s the last book you read?

Eugene Marathon Training Week 2 RUNdown 12/31-1/6!

Back to above 40 miles per week! Also last week was SO COLD. Multiple negative temperature mornings, which meant getting a bit creative with when I could fit my runs in. I did my best to run outside when I can, but I generally do not run outside when it’s below 5* (give or take). I also have determined that it takes FOREVER to get all those layers/ stabil icers on my sneakers/ hats/ mittens/ hand warmers on, so sometimes sheer laziness wins out and I hit the treadmill. What can I say- somedays it’s just pretty nice to wear just a sports bra, shorts, and binge watch some Gilmore Girls. I’m human.

just too cold to really be doing anything besides cuddling with the cats and heated blanket.

Also got a belated Christmas gift from my mom- looove these lush bath bombs. I’m trying not to use them all at once (also trying not to take a bath every single night to save on our water bill, but it’s HARD because cold temperatures + soothing warm water + great smelling bath soaps = baths are so necessary).

It’s finally starting to quiet down a bit at work (so needed), but I also found that taking a runch break last week really helped de-stress me. Most days I’m unable to take a lunch break (due to teaching skating lessons in the afternoons), but when I can get out it feels pretty amazing. Let’s recap last week shall we?

Monday, 12/31: planned 6 miles easy, but wanted to get in a good ‘end of the year mileage number’ so I ended up with 6.81 miles at 10:45 pace on the treadmill because I just re-did my treadmill run and wanted to take advantage of it!

Tuesday, 1/1: planned 1.5 mi warm-up, 12 x 400m, 1.5 mi cool down, but actually did my strength and then called it a rest day. I was feeling really exhausted and had the complete day off of work so just decided to take advantage of it and listen to my body. It was amazing and so glad I did that. Not every run needs to be perfect and sometimes listening to your body will do wonders.

Wednesday, 1/2: planned rest day, but since I took my rest day on Tuesday I ended up doing 1/2 mi warm-up, 5 miles at goal marathon pace effort (because it was 5* outside at 2pm) 8:38 pace, 1/2 mi cool-down. Avg pace was 8:54 78’ up & also fit in some yoga. Felt pretty good until close to the end of the run, where I got so cold I had to check to make sure my nose didn’t fall off. Don’t worry it was still there.

Thursday, 1/3: 1/2 mi warm up, 5 miles goal marathon pace, 1/2 mi cool down, but did that yesterday so I stuck with 8.06 miles easy at 10:13 548’ elevation gain over my lunch break! Also fit in my strength (started a new strength routine on Tuesday and will stick with it until March then do a whole new one to prevent becoming stagnant) that morning before work. Sunshine + hills + 20* weather felt incredible.

Friday, 1/4: 12-14 miles easy, but had my first back-to-back long runs on schedule so to the treadmill it was (considering how it was -5* outside and I could only fit it in early in the AM)! Goal was anywhere from 12-14 miles and ended up with 12.5 miles. I varied the incline from 1% for the first 60 minutes then rotated through 1% -> 2% -> 3% rolling hills for the next 55 minutes. 9:40 avg pace. Also working on my nutrition! I tried out Huma Gels and LOVED them. I’ve got some Spring Energy gels coming too to test out. I also have found that sweet potatoes right before a run makes me feel AMAZING. I’m going to try out some sweet potato toast with almond butter before my runs this week and will let you know how it goes.

Saturday, 1/5: 4 miles easy- ended up with 4.10 miles easy at 10:31 453’ elevation gain. We went snowshoeing in the morning (great crosstraining) and my butt was SO sore from my incline treadmill the day before/ hiking in the morning.

Sunday, 1/6: 1.5 mi warm-up, 12 x 400 (400R), 1.5 mi cool-down & strength- 1.5 mi warm-up, did my strength, did 6 x 400 then called it because I felt my knee starting to feeling a bit not so great (and our treadmill isn’t the best for speedwork), .75 mi cool down. I came up short, but I’ll get it next week!

Total Mileage: 42.74 miles

Total Elevation gain: 1, 079’ up

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Favorite Bath bomb scents or bubble bath?! I’m obsessed.

Coldest temperature you’d head out for a run? Am I a big baby over here?

Favorite crosstraining activity?

Eugene Marathon Training Week 1 RUNdown 12/24-12/30

If there was a theme last week, it was probably ‘survival’. I knew it would be a super crazy week in both my office job and teaching skiing at the mountain, so I just wanted to fit my runs in regardless. I did manage to get them all in (besides cutting down Sunday’s scheduled 6 miles to 5.25 instead), so that’s a success. More runs were on the treadmill than I originally wanted, but it was COLD early in the mornings and since I had zero flexibility to run outside most days, it was indoors for my only option. Oh well- new year, new week right!?!

Monday, 12/24: 6.5 easy miles on the treadmill

Tuesday, 12/25: 6 Christmas miles easy 788’ up & strength

Wednesday, 12/26: REST DAY

Thursday, 12/27: 7 miles with 4 miles @ goal marathon pace (8:11) & strength

Friday, 12/28: 6 miles easy at 10:45 pace early

Saturday, 12/29: 8.15 miles easy @ 9:58 66’ up. I only planned for 6, but had the opportunity to run outside (despite the 15* temps) so I took advantage of it and went a bit longer!

Sunday, 12/30: 5.25 miles easy with incline varied 1% up to 5% and then worked my way back down to 1%. 10:10 avg pace & strength

Total mileage: 38.9 miles

Total Elevation: 825’ up

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How’s the weather where you are?!?

What’s the temperature outside where you decide to take it to the treadmill?