Friday Favorites

 Happy Friday! This is my last official Friday of summer as I start in-services on Monday. Our school is currently starting remotely so we'll see how that goes! I have a busy weekend ahead of me! I'm going to visit my friend Rachel for her birthday on Saturday and on Sunday we are getting together with John's best friend for a belated birthday celebration for John. It should be fun! Before I sign off and start this last summer weekend, I'm sharing a few things I've been loving this week.

Gatorade Endurance Energy Gel
I did a long run on Wednesday and figured I should probably bring some fuel with me. I grabbed a gel I had gotten during the Philadelphia Marathon last year (it was their course fuel) without knowing how it would be. Luckily, it ended up being great! It was apple pear flavored and had a thinner consistency than most gels, such a GU. I liked the fruity flavor which surprised me because I'm a die-hard S'mores GU fan but I just felt like it was much easier to digest when my stomach was already a bit wonky from the heat. I haven't tried their other energy gel flavors (vanilla, blackberry, and mango) but now I want to!

Honey Mustard Pretzels
I picked up these honey mustard pretzels at my local Amish Market last week to try and switch up my snack options. I was hooked from the first bite! They're the perfect salty snack to have on hand throughout the day, but fair warning, the honey mustard powder coating can get messy! My dad said they reminded him of Snyder's Honey Mustard and Onion pretzels so if you don't have an Amish Market nearby, I suggest picking those up! I'm planning to grab a bag on my next grocery trip to compare them.

Weighted Blanket
I've been eyeing one up for a couple months now so I figured it was the perfect purchase to use an Amazon gift card I had been holding onto on. They can be pretty expensive but I ended up finding a decently priced one on Amazon and bit the bullet on buying it the other day. I went with the queen size and it came to $40, which I learned after some research is fairly cheap. I've only had it for a few days now but I just had to include it in today's post because I am OBSESSED! I mainly bought it in hopes it would help me fall asleep faster at night. Let me tell you, it works! I was asleep so quick the first night I tried it. The next morning I decided to push off my run until later in the day and I fell asleep as soon as I changed my alarm, which never happens. Once I'm awake, I'm up for the day usually so this is a game changer. The material it is made out of is super soft and doesn't get extremely hot like I expected.

Question of the Day: What have you been loving this week?

Friday Favorites

 Another week has come and gone so here is another Friday Favorites post! Work will be starting up shortly for me which means I'm really trying to soak in these summer days. I spent a lot of time this past week seeing some friends while also getting things done around the house in preparation for a crazy school year. This weekend is John's birthday but, as of now, we don't have any set in stone plans. All I know is we are celebrating tomorrow with his parents and Sunday (his actual birthday) just us. Before I sign off and go get wrap up his presents, I'm sharing a few things I've been loving this week.

Dunkin' Pumpkin Iced Coffee with Oat Milk
As of August 19th, pumpkin is back at Dunkin'! I know a lot of people think it's too early but it's been a rough couple months so please just let us pumpkin lovers have this, haha. Anyway, along with pumpkin, Dunkin' also released a few other new items, one being oat milk as an option! I was all over this as any real dairy can mess with my stomach. I went the other day and got my usual pumpkin iced coffee, but instead of cream, I got the oat milk. Holy moly was it yummy! I'd compare it to the creaminess of regular cream but without the stomachache after. I highly recommend a pumpkin iced coffee with oat milk or any of your favorite Dunkin' beverage with oat milk!

Dunkin' Mocha Latte Cereal
Sorry to my non-coffee loving friends, but another coffee related item! Post recently released a Dunkin' line of cereal. They currently offer two flavors: caramel macchiato and mocha latte. While at the grocery store on Wednesday, I caved and picked up a box of the mocha latte cereal. Of course I came right home and poured myself a bowl. Guys, the flavor is phenomenal! The combination of coffee and mocha flavors is spot on and the little marshmallows are a much-loved touch. Now I'm eager to try the caramel macchiato flavor!

Special Edition Gunmetal ROADiD
This week ROADiD released a new finish option for the 19mm wrist ID- gunmetal. As an ambassador, I got first dibs at getting one and I jumped on the chance! There are five amazing band colors to choose from- bubble gum (the color I chose!), swim trunks (blue), tennis ball (bright yellow), charcoal, and sidewalk (kind of like an off-white). I'm pretty sure I let out a squeal when I opened the box and saw how pretty the gunmetal grey hardware looked against the bright pink band. SO. PRETTY. Like all ROADiD wrist IDs, the quality of both the silicone band (which is adjustable for all wrist sizes!) and hardware is wonderful. Plus, I feel safe going on a run knowing all my emergency information is right on wrist if needed! If you're interested in buying one, or any ROADiD, use my code EMILY_2020 until October 1st for a discount!

Question of the Week: What is something you've been loving this week?

Running Streak Tips

If you follow me on Instagram then it's no secret that I've been doing a run streak since the end of May (today is day 76!). My sister and I started a run streak together as a way to challenge ourselves since we were both currently not following any sort of training schedule. While we might not be going super long distances or running at phenomenal paces every day, we are still enjoying ourselves and loving our daily routine. Neither of us know how long we will continue this for especially with school (and crazy schedules!) quickly approaching. Today I'm sharing with you some things I've personally learned throughout the past few months of my run streak.

Get it done with early. I learned that, personally, I do better when I get my daily run done with before I even start my day. I literally get up and ready, drink some water, and go. When I get back home, I am always full of energy and ready to start my day. It also feels nice later in the day knowing that I already ran for the day so it's okay if I'm getting tired and just want to chill.

Get into a routine. I really can't stress this one enough! Once you get yourself into a routine with running each day, it will feel much easier. The most stressful part of running for me is trying to plan and squeeze it in each day. When it's already built into my daily routine, I don't have to think about it.

If you're feeling exhausted, space out your runs. This was a tip my sister found somewhere online and I wish I knew where so I could credit them because it's a good one! This may contradict my first two tips but hear me out. Most days I run anywhere from 1-4 miles but at least once a week I will do a longer run. If I feel completely drained later in the day, after I've already run my longer distance, I will plan to run the next day later in the day to maximize my recovery time. It will mess with my routine for a few days, and most likely force me to only run a mile or two the next day or so, but it's worth it for my body!

Don't obsess over each run. In the beginning of my streak, I was getting annoyed that my paces weren't the best and some days I just really couldn't push myself past that first mile. After beating myself up for a couple days I finally realized- I'm running every freakin' day, of course I'll have slower/harder days! Instead of obsessing over each and every run, I just focus on my love of running. If I know I want to do some sort of speed work or Bad Ass Lady Gang guided workout one day, I will try and pick a day where I haven't been running too much leading up to it.

Make everything accessible. Now that running is part of my daily routine, my sunglasses and headphones have become a permanent decoration on my dining room server. My running shoes are kept in the same spot every day so I don't have to take time searching the house. I pick out what I'm going to wear each night before I go to bed. I do all of this so I have no excuses. Each morning I wake up, grab all my running gear from their respective places, and go. No thinking, no searching. Just running. And maybe you don't want your running gear on display at all times. I get that. So maybe you can find a spot in your closet or a drawer somewhere in your house to be the home for your everyday running accessories. Whatever works for you!

Question of the Day: Have you ever had a run streak? If so, how many days did it last?

Friday Favorites

Happy First Friday of August! I have a love/hate relationship with the month of August. I love it because a lot of important dates fall during this month but then I hate it because it means work starts back up very soon. One of those important dates I've mentioned is our wedding anniversary this Sunday! As of now we have a low key weekend planned that may or may not involve waffles & ice cream 😉 Anywho- another Friday, another post with some things I've been loving!

My New Car

On Tuesday I finally traded in my 2001 Honda CRV for a 2017 Honda HRV EX-L! I am over the moon excited over here! We've been planning to get me a new car for awhile now, then covid-19 happened and our search came to a pause. We picked back up last week and during our search came across this beauty! It is the perfect car for me and has so many great features, most importantly being heated seats and power locks (you'd understand if you ever were in my old car). I highly recommend this car for anyone in the market for a smaller size SUV. 

Nuun Tank Top

I saw this new Nuun tank top pop up in my Nuun Ambassador Facebook group last week and knew I just had to have it! I'm currently doing a runstreak so all my running clothes are really taking a beating. I used that as justification for treating myself to this! This tank top is super soft, the pink is very eye-catching, and it has a very flattering fit. It's Bella + Canvas brand, which is one of my favorites! All proceeds of the sales benefit the organization &Mother, an organization who breaks down barriers
"that limit a woman’s choice to pursue and thrive in both career and motherhood."

Old Navy Linen Shorts

I bought a pair of these shorts last year because I needed some new shorts for my honeymoon. They've since become my favorite casual shorts and I'm not sure why I don't own them in every color yet. They're lightweight, have a drawstring to tighten them around the waist, and aren't super short, making them very comfortable! I'm hoping I can find a few pairs on clearance as the summer comes to an end.

Question of the Day: What is something you've been loving this week?

Friday Favorites

Happy Friday & last day of July! Where has the time gone?! It's crazy to think that my summer break is quickly coming to an end. This summer has definitely been very different compared to other years but I am really enjoying it. There isn't much on our agenda this weekend besides an ice cream party at my sister's on Sunday. We have been trying to do little family get together's on a weekly basis to make up for the past few months. Maybe we'll even squeeze in some pool time at John's parents at some point ;) Now for what you came here for, my Friday Favorites! Enjoy and have a great weekend!

Badass Lady Gang Virtual Runs

I'm not even sure how I stumbled across this on Instagram, but I'm so glad I did! As part of the Run, Selfie, Repeat podcast, the Badass Lady Gang hosts weekly virtual runs. Each week is a different workout in which you can listen to through the podcast. Kelly guides you through the workout so all you need to do is listen and run. Not much thinking is involved so that is right up my alley! I did the workout pictured above yesterday and oh man, was it a spicy one! If you're looking for a way to switch up your running routine, I highly suggest trying one of the many guided runs that they have to offer!

Sweet Magnolias

After many suggestions, I finally caved and watched Sweet Magnolias. I must've really loved it because I binged it over the course of just a few days! The Netflix series follows the lives of 3 women in a small South Carolina time who have been friends since childhood. They are by each other's sides through everything when it comes to romance, family, and their careers. It's such a sweet show that is a nice break from all the really intense shows out there! I happened to finish it as soon as they announced there will be a season two so that is exciting!

Skinny Banana Bread Muffins

I had a couple of really ripe bananas sitting in my fruit bowl the other day so I decided to whip up some banana bread muffins! I did a little google search and came across this healthy-ish recipe that required little sugar. They were super quick to whip up and taste amazing! I made some with chocolate chips and while the plain ones were good, the chocolate chip muffins really knocked it out of the park! This may be my new go-to banana muffin recipes now!

Question of the Day: What is something you've been loving lately?

Using Nuun in More Than Water!

As most of you know, I'm a huge fan of Nuun Hydration (and hydration in general, but that's a topic for another post!) and am even a 2nd year ambassador for them. With the extreme heat wave Jersey has been experiencing lately, I've been trying to get creative with my hydration game. Adding Nuun tabs to my water throughout the day definitely helps make staying hydrated a bit easier, but lately I started thinking outside the box. What if I could incorporate Nuun into some fun summertime treats? Today I'm sharing three ideas I've tried and loved!

Nuun Slushie

This has to be my new favorite post-long run treat! This recipe can be altered in so many different ways but for now I will share how I made it. I dissolved 2 strawberry lemonade tabs in 16 oz of water. Once they fully dissolved, I combined that with a handful of frozen strawberries in my blender. Next I blended it then enjoyed! Super simple. Like I said before, there are an endless amount of ways you could alter this, from the amount of water or number of Nuun tabs to the flavor of Nuun or frozen fruit added. The key to it being the slushie consistency is for the fruit to be frozen but I'm sure you could add in some ice cubes if your fruit isn't frozen.

Nuun Jello

This idea came from a fellow Nuun Ambassador on our Facebook group and it's super simple to make! Make your Jello following the directions on the box, but dissolve a tab or two of Nuun into the cold water that is added at the end. Like the slushie, this recipe can be altered so many ways as the flavor combinations of Jello and Nuun are endless! The number of Nuun tabs can be changed based off how strong you want the flavor to be. When I first made it I used strawberry Jello and strawberry kiwi Nuun- so good! I just made it this past weekend using cherry Jello and Kona Cola Nuun which may be my new favorite combination.

Nuun Ice Pops

With all my hot runs lately, I knew I needed to come up with a refreshing treat for after a run that was quick and easy.  My idea was a Nuun popsicle! Once again, this is another simple recipe. Dissolve 1-2 Nuun tabs for every cup of water you're going to use (my ice pop mold only held 1 cup total), pour the Nuun into any ice pop mold, then freeze! I've been loving having one after a really hot run. If I don't feel like finishing it, I just drop the remainder of the ice pop in a glass of water to cool down my water and add a little bit of flavor. My favorite flavor for these is Fresh Lime since it's so refreshing!

Question of the Day: Which of these recipes are you going to try first?

Friday Favorites

Hey everyone! It's hard to believe we are already nearing the end of July. Summer is really flying by for me! I've been finding ways to keep myself busy without working this summer which has been nice. I've been spending a lot of time with my sister and nephews lately and let me tell you, those boys can really tire an auntie out! I'm not sure what is on the agenda for this weekend yet, but I'm sure John and I will figure something out. Before I log off for the weekend, I'm sharing a few things I've been loving lately. I hope you all have a great weekend and stay cool :)

Bodum Cold Brew Coffee Maker

Being home 99% of the time means I don't have much of an excuse to stop for Dunkin' iced coffee and I really shouldn't be spending all that money anyway. After doing some research, I found this super reasonably priced ($12.99!) cold brew maker at Target. It's simple to use and makes brewing your own cold brew a breeze. To make a pot of cold brew coffee, you use the scoop that is included to scoop your coffee grounds into the pot and then add water. I use 1 cup of water for every scoop (it seems to be about a tablespoon). Once you have the water and coffee grounds mixed, you put the regular lid on and pop it in the fridge for 12-24 hours. Once you're ready to drink it, you put on the lid with the plunger for pressing down the grounds. It's just like a French press! I've been making a pot of it in on Sunday or Monday and drinking it throughout the week. I even add in some fun flavor syrups so it feels like I'm at a coffee shop!

Jordan Essentials Lotion Bar

A few weeks ago I was part of some online Facebook party for my friend who sells Usborne books. She was partnered up with a consultant for Jordan Essentials, which is a skincare line. With my history of horrible skin, I was intrigued with the items. I caved and bought they most popular item, and the product that launched this business, a lotion bar! I chose the Lavender & Eucalyptus scent and it's divine! It's about the size of a bar of some and does so many things such as moisturize your hands, heal cracked heels, and more. It comes in a tin to store it in, which means I've been taking it everywhere with me. It uses beeswax and coconut oil (along with other oils) to help moisturize. My skin has been loving it!

Aura Cacia Rose Hydrosol Spray

I received this in an Influenster box a few weeks ago. I wasn't sure about it at first because it's just a refresh and renewing spray but I've come to be obsessed with it! Just like I said, it's used to refresh and renew your face whenever you feel like it's needed. I've been using it in the morning and other times throughout my day to feel and it really does make me feel a bit better.. It also smells super nice! Surprisingly, my face has seemed more clear since I started using it! I'm not sure if this spray is really the cause of it, but if so, score! 

Question of the Day: What have you been loving lately?

Friday Favorites

Happy Friday! While each day feels like a Friday to me, I still look forward to the real Friday at the end of the week. We don't have anything on the agenda for this weekend yet but I'm sure we'll figure something out. Depending on the weather, maybe we will relax at his parent's pool. I'm not a pool person at all but lately it has been a nice escape. Before I get into full-on Friday mode, I'm sharing some things I've been loving this week!

The Nonrunner's Marathon Guide for Women by Dawn Dais

Dawn was a woman who never thought she  would ever want to run, let alone actually run a marathon. She shares her experience, from the moment she signed up until the actual day of the marathon, in the most fun and entertaining way possible. Along with tips about gear, fueling, and motivation, she shares her honest thoughts throughout the process, which can make the experience a lot more bearable and fun.

I've had this book on my shelf for years and finally picked it up to read between the non-fiction books I've been reading. It had me laughing from beginning to end because Dawn was just so freakin' relatable. Although I'm a 4x marathon runner, I still found some of her tips interesting and definitely enjoyed reading her point of view on certain topics. Something I found funny was that it had a handful of low ratings on Goodreads from people who were mad that this wasn't a legitimate marathon training guide when I was honestly shocked on how informative this was while also being hilarious. I'm not sure how one would mistake this for a hardcore training guide when it says "get off your butt and on with your training" right on the cover, but maybe that's just me haha.

Customized Sweatshirt

Back in the beginning of quarantine (can you believe that was almost 4 months ago?!), I decided I wanted to treat myself to a new sweatshirt since I was spending a majority of my time in my office, which can get chilly. After many days of searching and thinking way too into it, I finally stumbled across an Etsy shop called This One Life that made customized sweatshirts using my favorite sweatshirt brand, Bella + Canvas. I reached out to the owner on Instagram and she was an absolute angel with helping me design my custom sweatshirt that would have "marathoner" embroidered on it. It took awhile to come in since it was handmade and then shipped from Canada, but I was so thrilled once it arrived that I didn't even care. The quality of the sweatshirt along with the embroidering is amazing! I love that "marathoner" is stitched into the fabric and not a screen print since it will last much longer. I've been wearing it nonstop since receiving it! It's perfect for this slightly chilly summer nights because it isn't extremely heavy. I highly suggest checking out her shop if you're in the market for a new sweatshirt that is amazing quality for a reasonable price!

Palmolive Soft Touch Dish Soap

Total adult moment over, but I had to open a new bottle of dish soap the other day and it was the first time in years that I was using something other than Dawn Hand Renewal with Olay. I'm picky with any type of soap because my eczema can be irritated so easily. This was the perfect replacement for my Dawn because it is just as gentle on my skin while also thoroughly cleaning my dishes. My favorite thing about it is the scent, Aloe + Citrus. It is so light and pleasant that it almost makes washing dishes enjoyable... almost.

Question of the Day: What is something you've been loving lately?

Friday Favorites

Happy Friday! Did you miss me? I'm hoping you didn't think that I was just abandoning my blog. To be honest, my lack of a strict schedule since school officially ended has really thrown me off. And then last week John and I took a 5-day trip up to the Poconos to relax and recharge. I spent this past week adjusting to my newfound freedom (I have either had marching band or worked every summer since the summer of 2007...) but now I am back and ready to blog the summer away because really what else can I do? 🤣

It's been a hot minute since I've posted a Friday Favorites so I have tons of ideas swimming around in this head of mine. I'll try not to bombard you with too many today haha.

These Views

Like I said, we spent a majority of last week in the Pocono Mountains. We spent almost every day and night at the lake fishing since there wasn't much else to do with limited options. I really enjoyed being at the lake at night because the views were absolutely stunning! I snapped a couple good shots while we sat on the dock because I was just in awe at the colors and beauty of the sky. You don't see this kind of stuff that often where I live lol.

Smirnoff Ice Zero Sugar Original

My mom introduced these to me recently and they have quickly become my new favorite. I don't drink often because usually the drinks I enjoy are higher in calories and super sugary. These are the perfect choice because they are made me zero sugar but don't taste like it! John and I both agree they taste similar to Mike's Hard Lemonade, which is one of our favorites. I'll be sipping on these all summer long!

Yes, I still take ring pictures... ;)

Wifey Mug

Right before Father's Day I made my first trek into a Wal-Mart since before COVID. It was the only place that sold what I needed for my dad so I masked up and went super early in the morning to avoid crowds. That was a good idea because then I had the chance to wander around and find this beauty! Since getting married, I have been saying I wanted some sort of mug that either said wife, wifey, or Mrs. This mug exceeded my expectations because it is huge at 16 oz, I love the font of the word wifey, AND it was less than $5. Win! 

Voortman Sugar Free Wafers

Not to overload this post with sugar free items, but this is another awesome find that doesn't even taste sugar free! I found these at Dollar General for $1.50 but I am sure they can be found at other stores. First I bought the orange cream flavor and was amazed at how delicious they were! The orange flavor is strong without being fake tasting, if that makes sense. I thought the chocolate would taste bland since the actual wafer part isn't chocolate but I was wrong! Just like the orange, the chocolate flavor is strong but doesn't taste fake. I may have eaten this quicker than any human should... I also bought strawberry and vanilla wafers but have yet to try those!

Question of the Day: What have you been loving lately?

A Day in my Life

Happy Wednesday! I honestly thought yesterday was Thursday so as you can see, my whole week is thrown off. I don't think I've ever posted a day in my life so I figured what better day to do it than yesterday, the last official day of school for my students!

I started my day off as I usually do with a 6 am run around my neighborhood. 

I straightened up the kitchen afterwards and then gave myself a dipped manicure to celebrate the {almost} start of summer!

My first grade class had our last class Google Meet for the year which called for dressing up!

I headed out right after the meeting to go finish up some things in my classroom. I dropped off some thank you cards for my students along the way.

Of course I stopped for an iced coffee along the way! It was an odd feeling leaving the school for the summer.

I ended up going to my parents house for lunch after being at the school. No pictures were taken but we just relaxed and had burgers for lunch! Along the way I stopped at a Little Free Library for a new book.

I convinced John to go on a walk with me when he got home from work. It was gorgeous out!

We saw baby ducks along the golf course!

For dinner we made burrito bowls in the Instant Pot. One of our favorite meals since it is super simple and quick!

After dinner, we watched some Grey's Anatomy and hung out before going to bed.

Question of the Day: Do you have any summer plans yet?

Friday Favorites

Another Friday, another list of things I've been loving! This week went by super slowly for me for some reason so I'm pretty pumped that it is actually Friday now! We have yet another chill weekend ahead of us. Tomorrow we are planning to have a window date with our nephews since Joey turned 1 yesterday! We may also try and have some sort of indoor date night either tonight or tomorrow. Other than that, you can find me relaxing :) I hope you all have something nice planned for the weekend!

Brookside Crunchy Clusters

Some of my coworkers arranged a "booze fairy" thing where we took turns "boozing" one another. The person who boozed me last week really spoiled me! Along with the booze, she also gave me some snacks, one of which were these Brookside Crunchy Clusters. They are a mix of crispy pieces and chewy berries covered in dark chocolate. They are dangerously good! It's took everything in me not to finish the whole bag in one sitting.

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

Kya Clark is a quiet girl who has survived for years alone in the marsh that she calls home. She is referred to as the "Marsh Girl" by everyone in the nearby town and is pointed to as the suspect when Chase Andrews, a well-known man, is found dead. The book intertwines two separate timelines that follow along with Kya's life as well as the murder case of Chase. 

This book was really hyped up for me by many people so I was happy when I got my hands on it. It wasn't a book I'd normally pick up on my own but I am so glad I got around to reading it. I was hooked from the beginning and stayed up late one night because I couldn't stop reading until I knew what really happened!

Our Patio Project

Awhile back John found a pin on Pinterest for a really cool lighting project we could do for our patio that used the string lights I'm obsessed with. We live in a townhouse so we lack a backyard where we can do cool stuff so our patio has to do. John and his dad worked on it for a few days but it may have been able to be done all in one day if they chose the fast setting cement. First we bought pretty barrel planters which they put 8 foot posts in and then set them in with cement. Once that set, we put soil in the planters which later we planted some pretty flowers in. The final step was to drill in hooks near the top and hang the lights! It was a fairly simple project and looks amazing on our back patio both during the day and at night! We have already spent many nights sitting out there and relaxing.

Question of the Day: What is something your loving this week?

Marine Corps Marathon 2020?

Yes, that question mark is supposed to be part of my title. It's not a typo. The reason it's there is because I am questioning my participation in the 2020 Marine Corps Marathon along with the likelihood of it actually taking place live and in person on October 25, 2020.

Let's start from the beginning. The MCM has been on my bucket list for awhile now. My brother becoming a Marine in December was the final push to put in for the lottery this year. I eagerly registered for the lottery on the first day it opened in the middle of March. When I received the e-mail on April 1st telling me I was selected to run the race, I was ecstatic! 

WINNER WINNER, CHICKEN DINNER!

Obviously during this time COVID-19 was slowly becoming a bigger deal than anyone anticipated. When I registered on March 18th, I was in my first week of remote teaching but there was limited information so the idea of registering for a race about 7 months out seemed safe. By time the selections were made on April 1, I had already had to defer my entry for a marathon that I was planning to run on April 19th but had been cancelled. Once again, the race was still 7 months away so I was too worried.

Fast forward to May 15th. The MCM Organization sent us an email regarding the race, which you can see below. To sum it up for you, they let us know that they were still proceeding as planned but we had the option to defer early if we wanted. The deferral fee would be discounted and that deferral would be valid for 2021, 2022, or 2023. Score! Oh, and the even better part? If we defer now but the 2020 event does remain live, we will be allowed to come back, as long as space remains. Sounds like the best plan, right?!

I was all set to go with this plan. I discussed the options with John, my family, and my one friend and all said deferring was the best option. With so many unknowns, deferring would allow me to wait and see without losing out on ever using this registration fee. Plus having THREE different years I could choose to use my deferral is awesome!

Well, I was all set to hit "defer" when the MCM put up a post on Facebook the day after the Boston Marathon officially cancelled their race that was originally scheduled for April 20th and then rescheduled for September 14, 2020. It's pictured below, but in summary, they are being optimistic as they continue preparation for the October race. They are investigating ways to assure a healthy and safe environment for all participants. Would that mean we'd have to wear masks? I could not imagine running 26.2 miles in a mask. But how else would you maintain social distancing and safety at an event with close to 30,000 runners? So. Many. Questions.

You're probably starting to wonder if I'm going to answer your question "sooo did you defer?!" I thought by now my answer would be yes, but due to me being super indecisive, I haven't gone through and actually deferred yet. After much though and discussion with anyone who would listen, I know it is the best decision, but I have until September to make a choice so I am planning to give myself some more time to see what is going on. I just fear I will defer and then not have the opportunity to join back in if it stays live and as close to normal as possible. As much as I am eager to run the marathon, if waiting a year or two allows me to run the race as close to as normal as possible, then I'm all in with waiting. As for training, my training schedule would begin on June 22nd. I am planning to follow along with my training schedule as closely as possible in hopes that by time I hit my longer distance runs in August, I have an idea if the race is a go or not.

Question of the Day: Have you had any races cancelled or postponed due to COVID-19?

Friday Favorites

Happy Friday AND National Donut Day! I'm getting this out a little later than usual today because I honestly forgot it was Friday... sad, right? I just have lost all track of my days but now that I know it's really Friday, YAY! We don't have much going on this weekend besides hopefully finishing up a little backyard project we (read: mostly John and his dad) have been working on. I can't wait to share about it!Today I'm sharing a few things I've been loving lately. I've been doing a little online shopping lately so I wanted to share those things with you!

Senita High Waisted Rio Shorts & Hideaway Sports Bra

My friend has raved about Senita Athletics for awhile now so once I saw they offered shorts with POCKETS that were cheaper than I've ever seen, I had to really check them out. The high waisted Rio shorts have the perfect inseam length (3.75 inches) and don't ride up at all while I run. My phone fits in the side pocket and doesn't move around while moving. The hideaway sports bra also has a pocket on the back, as part of the racer-back. My phone fits in there and I hardly notice it while I run! Senita has completely sold me on their clothing. I'm already planning my next order ;)

ROADiD Elite Band

For being a ROADiD ambassador, I received an Elite ID with the clasp. When I first open the package, I was a little taken aback because I had to be the one to size it to my wrist. I was nervous at first because I didn't want to ruin it, but with some help from John and the videos on their website, we figured it out quickly! It was actually super simple and allowed me to get the best fit. I love the clasp closure because it's quick to take on and off. I never thought I'd like wearing a ROADiD on my wrist but I honestly don't even notice it's there!

Starbucks Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew

I had to run to Target the other day for a few things and while there, I noticed the Starbucks inside had reopened. I figured since I haven't been buying coffee out due to being home most of the time, I'd treat myself! My typical go-to is a chai tea latte but I wanted to be adventurous so instead I picked something off the menu I'd never tried before: the vanilla sweet cream cold brew. I worried the coffee taste would be too strong (I like the cover it as much as possible lol) but it was a perfect blend without being overly sweet! I brought it home to drink while reading on the back patio for a little bit :)

Question of the Day: What is something you've been loving this week?