Weekend recap!

Well we’re back to Monday. How was your weekend?!? I’ve been excited for this week for awhile because it’s a cut-back one in terms of mileage! I have 2 workouts on tap and then the rest are either easy miles , rest, or cross training. I’m taking this week to get ample amounts of rest (SLEEP!) and enjoying the downtime. Today’s a cross training day and I’m excited to get in 45 minutes of swimming! So happy to have an outdoor heated pool to enjoy.  

Let’s flashback to Friday night where I watched the Ladies US Figure Skating National championships! With a side of Sour Patch Kids obviously ;) Also just noticed that the tv has hockey on, but don’t be fooled- I WAS watching figure skating! Ha. 

We’ve also gotten 48” of snow in the past 7 days?!? So we took advantage of it and hiked up our (unestablished) ski mountain, then skied down.  

Stella had a ton of fun too.  

Shepard’s Pie (Cooked by Alex) for dinner. Yum!  

Then a long run on Sunday on very tired legs. 

Fueled by some slow cooker chicken corn & potato chowder. Yum!  

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Any snow where you are?!? 

Favorite way to refuel after a winter run?  

Favorite sour candy?  

Feature Friday: Michelle Obama's Becoming Book Review!

I really enjoyed Michelle Obama’s book Becoming. I thought that it was so well-written and wasn’t softened down at all. She really does tell it all and I loved how she used words that I had never before heard (i.e. I had to look them up in the Dictionary!)- I feel that it’s extremely rare when you read something these days and have to look up a word that’s used (or maybe that’s just me and the normal types of books that I read).

There were so many similarities that I found between her life and mine in her book and I especially loved one thing that she really continued to draw upon- we are planting the seeds to our life, but then we just need to sit back and watch them grow. —> I LOVE thinking of everything in my life this way and it really helps take a lot of the pressure off of everyday things that are ‘out of our control’ (same with running). If we’re putting in the work necessary for the seed to grow, then all we can do is continue to nurture it and wait.

I also thought how fitting it was how much she talks about her love for Chicago- I may need to read this book again right before I run the Chicago Marathon this year. It did get me really excited to see if the marathon passes by any of the major icons she mentions in her book (or in the neighborhood where her and Barack lived?!?). Another book that really tied into my running choices this year (Shoe Dog by Phil Knight was the tie to Eugene/ Eugene Marathon last Fall for me).

Another weird connection that I found out pretty immediately in her book- is that her father had MS. This is the second book that I’ve picked up (without knowing) that the author has a very personal connection to MS. She discusses the impact of his MS so well and I could relate to so many of the situations she describes (along with both her fathers’ feelings about the autoimmune disease, along with her views from the outside).

She does such a wonderful job tying in how she became First Lady, but also doesn’t sugar-coat it. She very plainly describes how difficult it was in certain situations to be in the limelight and how she came from a very typical middle class family, but was able to seek every opportunity that was presented to her. Another big take-away that I took from her book and one that I want to start implementing into my life —> how connections that she made helped open up doors (professionally) to both her and Barack. You never know who may meet that could help you later on in life!

Overall- this is a definite must-read in my book. I finished it in less than 2 weeks and honestly would have finished sooner if I had extra time on my hands : )

Have a great weekend and let me know your thoughts if you also read her book! I’m getting my long run in this morning (12-15 miles) and will hopefully get on the ski slopes one of the two days this weekend.

Here’s also a cute little photo of Brady because…why not ;)

Travel Thursday: 10 Non-Traditional Things To Do In Steamboat Springs, CO!

Happy Friday-eve! OK so I’ve been wanting to this type of post for a while now, but honestly it always felt pretty daunting to write it all out. BUT it’s a new year and I’m up for the challenge! I’m getting in some easy miles this morning (5-8) and strength training as well. Also resting up for another ‘longer’ run Friday morning (12-15)!

Here are some non-traditional things that you should totally do if you’re ever in Steamboat Springs, CO. I’ve collected this list through my adventures around the valley over the past five and a half years.

• Walk along Yampa Avenue at night. They put up the best lights and it’s so beautiful (reminds me of that scene in The Notebook where they meet and dance in the middle of the road- I’ve always wanted to do something like that!)

• Eat at Haymaker in the winter and do their sleigh ride dinner. It is 100% amazing.

• Snowshoe hike out to Fish Creek Falls in the winter. It’s so beautiful and quiet in the winter. Snowshoes are highly recommended to get to the Falls and then beyond if you’re feeling in shape!

• Camp out along Seedhouse Road north of Steamboat Springs. This is my favorite area that I’ve been to in the Valley. So beautiful and relaxing out there.

• Cross Country ski during the full moon along Stagecoach Reservoir. The groomed trails make it easy to follow among the moonlight.

• Participate in one of Steamboat Running Series’ races. Their half marathon or Steamboat Stinger are both amazing races (and well put-together!)

• Eat at Mazzola’s and get their pizza. It’s incredible and you will not be disappointed.

• Run along Emerald Mountain’s trails in the summer. You can’t go wrong with any trail you choose.

• Stay at Strawberry Park Hot Springs overnight and enjoy a fresh soak first-thing the next morning.

• Rent one of the yurts at Pearl Lake. We did this in the winter and it was so nice to wake-up there the next morning among the snow and quietness of the park. I’m sure it’s just as beautiful in the summer too!

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Ever been to Steamboat? Tell me something that you’d add to this list!

Eugene Marathon/50 Miler Training RUNdown Week 4 : 1/14-1/20

Rest day over here! I’m finally starting to get into a good routine with my training and when my rest day is vs hard workout days. It’s funny how it takes a bit of time before you feel into the groove of things and your body adapts. I’m also excited because next week is my first cut-back (mileage) week of my 50 miler training cycle! I normally stay on a pretty consistent building mileage schedule, but am intrigued by the ‘cut backs’. I think it may help prevent me from burning out and staying able to continually build up the mileage without getting injured. I’ll swap out a few of my easy runs days for cross training days.

Also- just an update. I cannot be trusted to NOT sign-up for more races. Haha.

But in all seriousness- I’m SO EXCITED about this one! It fits perfectly in my calendar (as far as training/ far out enough from either of my goal races/ location) and not too far from home. Plus it looks like a really fast course, so half marathon PR—> I’m coming for you!!

Last week, I managed to get outside for several of my runs, but also hit the treadmill a fair amount due to the snow. It is what it is during the winter here and I’ll take whatever opportunity I have to get the miles in (whether it’s indoors or out).

Monday, 1/14: 5.95 miles easy @ 10:08 23’ up

Tuesday, 1/15: 5.35 miles with 1.5 mi warm-up (6 x 400m at 3% incline 8:30 pace/ 400m R)/ .65 mi 12% incline hike & strength. I cut this workout a bit short because my back and stomach were feeling off. I still felt like I gave it decent effort when I could!

Wednesday, 1/16: Rest day! Did some yoga.

Thursday, 1/17: Planned to do 12 miles in the morning, but the snow that we got was insane. I fit in 7.5 miles in the morning with 272’ up & strength and then got in the remaining 4.5 miles after work on the treadmill. Still got in the milage, just not normally how I am used to getting it done!

Friday, 1/18: 8 miles easy at 9:49 average on the treadmill & massage in the afternoon!

Saturday, 1/19: 6.02 miles easy at 10:36 860’ up & yoga

Sunday, 1/20: strength & 9 miles total with 6 miles at goal marathon effort (8:28 pace). Not my fastest, but I stuck with it despite not feeling super strong.

Total Mileage: 45.02 miles

Total Elevation: 1, 833’ up

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Favorite cross training activity?

Favorite way to spend a rest day?

Training Tuesday: Sharing My Strength Training Routine!

Happy Tuesday! I’ve been wanting to share with you for a while now my current strength training routine and now I finally am! I switch up my strength training exercises every 6-8 weeks and increase my reps that I do every 2 weeks, so I can continually get stronger (you body eventually adapts to the strength training exercises that you do if you continually do them no matter how many more reps/weights you add on). I’ve honestly noticed a HUGE difference in my overall strength and mobility now that I’ve started keeping track of when I need to change up my exercises (I started doing this seriously in July 2018). I will sometimes use old exercises I’ve done when creating a new routine/ use ones I’ve found in Magazines, online, instagram, etc. / or come up with some of my own.

Here’s a full breakdown of my exercises and then below I’ve got a full video for you. I’ve just started doing 3 rounds of each exercises (previously did 2 rounds of 12 and then began with 2 rounds of 10) and will build up to doing 3 rounds of 15 of each exercises before introducing a new strength training routine. I love ones that work on multiple muscle groups at once, especially if they challenge my balance or work on my running form as well.

Here is the video if you’re wondering what some of these exercises are. I meant to do them in order of the sheet, but I forgot so feel free to reach out to me if you’re wondering what one specific exercise looks like. I didn’t show wall squats in the video, but figured most people know what those are/ I was limited in the space that I had to shoot the video too ; )

I’ve got some 1k (~.62 mi) repeats this morning on the treadmill & some strength as well (I’m doing my hard days hard- i.e. strength & challenging workouts, so I can take my easy days super easy). Wish me luck!

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How often do you change up your strength training routine?

What are some of your favorite strength exercises?!?

Favorite speed workout distance? —> 800s I think? Anything shorter feels really fast and anything longer just feels really long!