Friday Five: 5 Things I'm Loving This Week

TGIF! Even with a sick day on Wednesday, this week has felt extremely long! Maybe because I had such a good long weekend I didn't even want to go back this past Monday? Who knows... but it's Friday now and I am thrilled! There isn't much on the agenda for this weekend, besides getting all the housework done that I've been putting off due to be sick. I'm sure fun plans will pop up, though! They usually do. Before I get on with my typical Friday routine, I'm sharing with you 5 things I've been loving this week (and maybe for a few weeks!).


1. Nailed It!

My brother and I stumbled across this show on Netflix a couple weeks ago and boy has it kept us entertained! The idea of the show is that 3 people who admit to being terrible bakers/cooks go on a baking show to see who can recreate meals or baked items the best. I just love that everyone is laughing the whole time and there is no real stress of being perfect. The episodes are short so you can probably binge watch this quickly!

2. Another Mother Runner Podcast

Leading up to the Philly Marathon, I was trying to find as many running related podcasts, blogs, and books to keep me in the right mindset. While doing this, I came across the podcast founded by Dimity and Sarah called Another Mother Runner. I know I'm not technically a mother (#catmom) but the podcasts are still super interesting to listen to and very informative. The episode that caught my attention was #337: Self-Defense Advice from 2X Assault Survivor Kelly Herron. Kelly recounts her two assaults and how she used the self-defense tips she previously learned. It's a must-listen for anyone who wants to learn some new ways to keep yourself safe while running!

The shirt I ordered for John!

3. Spectator Sports

I was introduced to this brand just a few days before the Philly Marathon expo while scrolling through Instagram. Spectator Sports is unlike many running brands because it caters to the counter part of races: our spectators! They have a good variety of shirts for our wonderful spectators with fun says such as "here to cheer," "first cheer then beer," and "hurry up we're missing brunch." I fell in love from the start and knew I HAD to get John a shirt. Unfortunately they didn't have the one I wanted at the expo so I ordered it off there website instead as a Christmas gift for him!

4. Vegetable Lasagna

Let me just start off by saying my mom is a literal godsend. John and I went away last weekend and realized while driving home on Sunday that we had nothing for lunches this week. Luckily, my mom had made two vegetable lasagna's on Saturday night knowing that there would be plenty of leftovers to send over our way. I came home to a huge container of vegetable lasagna, which is one of my favorite meals, in my fridge. I had forgotten how much I loved it until I had it for lunch on Monday (and again every other day..). The best part? It's a pre-made meal from Stouffer's that tastes just as good as homemade!

5. My Christmas Tree

As if our weekend wasn't busy enough, John and I decided to put up our Christmas tree Sunday night! We bought it while out Black Friday shopping and were eager to set it up in our new house. It fits perfect next to our steps in our front foyer and adds so much cheer to the house. What made everything better is that we played Christmas music and drank hot chocolate while we put it together and decorated it :)

Question of the Day: What are you loving this week?

How to Beat Post-Marathon Blues

Over a week ago I finished my third marathon and like I have in the past, I am finding myself having the post-marathon blues. What do I mean by this, you may ask? I feel like that after 18 weeks of putting my all into marathon training, I now feel like I have nothing to do. If you feel the same way as me, then keep reading to get some tips on beating these blues!

My gym has the coolest massage bed that I definitely took advantage of the day after the marathon!

Focus on recovery. After 18 or so weeks of working your body to the extreme, it's time to thank it by recovering properly! This can be done by stretching, foam rolling, epsom salt baths, and any other way you feel helps your body recover from running 26.2 miles (plus hundreds of training miles!).

No training = a restful trip to the Poconos!

Find something to do during the time you'd usually be running. We can all agree that training for a marathon takes away a lot of our free time. I used the excuse "I have to run" way too many times these past few months when it came to all the books I've been wanting to read and things around the house I should've gotten done. Now that I find myself with a lot of free time, especially on my weekend morning, I have been crossing a lot more off my to do list and have been getting some more "me time" in.

Make a new running/workout schedule. If you're like me, then you probably work best by following a schedule. Without my marathon training schedule, I feel absolutely lost! I've been using my new-found free time to put together a running and workout schedule for the next few months that focus on the aspects of running I want to work on (speed, strength training, etc.). This has not only distracted me from missing my intense marathon schedule (yes, you read that right) but it also has allowed me to come up with a schedule that is best for me.

Sign up for another race. Come on, I know you want to! The first thing I always think after crossing a finish line is "when can I do this again?!" (after I think about what post-race food I am getting first, of course!). By signing up for a new race, you'll have something new to look forward to. The best part of marathon training is working towards a goal so why not set a new goal?

Running Interview

Happy Sunday! I know the past 18 Sunday's have been consistent with marathon training updates but now it's time to try something new! I'm brainstorming a couple ideas to have as a consistent Sunday post but for now it'll just be random. While trying to come up with some fun blog posts, I stumbled across this blog post that had running interview questions. I thought it would be fun to fill it out for myself and share it with you! The idea is to answer the questions and then add your own at the end (mine is #33!). If you decide to fill it out and put it on your blog, let me know so I can check it out!

1. Number of marathons you have run:As of a week ago, three!

2. Where was your first marathon?
Philadelphia in 2015.

3. Favorite Marathon course:I have only ran the Philadelphia Marathon each time I've ran one, but between the first two years they changed the course. In 2015, the half and full marathon took place the same day. When the runners got to the half way point, the marathon runners kept going but the half runners split from us and finished. In 2017 (and for now on), the half took place the day before. I personally liked the older course for two reasons. One, I felt pretty badass being one of the marathoners that got to keep going at the half way point. Two, if for any reason you felt unable to keep going after half way through, you could stop and technically still finish a race, medal and all!

4. Most memorable race:
Garden Spot Village Half Marathon. This race took place in April and it actually snowed the day of the race! It was the weirdest, yet coolest experience ever!

Can you see that snow?!

5. PRs? 

According to my watch stats except for the marathon PR because that was fresh enough in my mind (not all of these are from races but they still count in my opinion):

5k - 26:33
10k- 1:00:57
1/2 marathon- 2:14:16
Marathon- 5:02:51

6. Ever run in a costume?
I've done a St. Patrick's Day themed race a couple times and wore a tutu and a headband. Same idea for a couple Christmas themed races. I don't know if I'd be able to run in anything too bulky.

7. The only running shoes for me:
Brooks Ghost!! I've tried others, including Nike Pegasus and Asics Gel Cumulus, but always come back to Brooks. I also like the Brooks Launch but not for longer distances.

8. Ever injured?
Tendinitis in my ankle a month before my first marathon.

9. Hot or cold weather runner?
Cold because I tend to get really overheated in any temperature.

10. Morning or evening runs?
Morning. I like to get up and get it done because if I wait until later in the day then I'm usually really tired.

Early AM runs mean I get the roads to myself!

11. What is your motivation? Proving that I can push myself to reach my goals. Also, food... I have a major sweet tooth and running allows me to treat myself without any guilt.

12. Ever DNF?
No.

13. Race I'd like to forget:
Run the Bridge 10k. It was super windy which made running across the Ben Franklin bridge kind of scary. Also, by time we made it over the bridge and back we had already ran a 5k and then the last 5k was very boring scenery-wise. I think it would be better as a 5k.

14. Favorite post race nosh:
Hot chocolate or chocolate milk (depending on the weather), pizza, and soft pretzels.

15. Galloway or Higdon?
I've always used Higdon as a reference when creating my training schedules.

16. Flat course or hills: 

Flat course with a few small hills to spice it up.

17. Back, Middle, or Front of the pack?
Middle or back. If I'm ever in the back, I feel like I'm the only person running so I'm unsure how I got there.

18. Run alone or with a partner:
I typically run alone but I like running with people so we can talk and keep each other company. Typically if I'm running with people then I don't usually worry about my time because I just talk a lot...

19. Ever win your age group?
Not yet.

20. One part of your body that has never seen Body Glide:
I've never had to use it on my heels or anywhere on my feet because the socks I use (Experia Thorlo socks) are great and don't rub!

21. Best part of running:
The post-run high and the feeling of accomplishing things that most people wouldn't even consider trying.

I never thought I'd be saying I've ran a marathon, let alone THREE!

22. If I didn't run I_______________.
Probably would go crazy! Running gives me time to relax and have some "me" time.

23. I can't run without_________________.
Water. I seriously take my hydration pack with me on any run regardless of the distance. 

23. Ever lose a toenail?
Several.

24. Gatorade or Cytomax?
Gatorade.

25. Favorite gel flavor?
Gu S'mores or French Toast.

26. How many days after a marathon do you usually start running again?
I try to let myself rest and recover for a week or so but I always end up running on Thanksgiving (I love running on holidays!), which is always the Thursday after the Philly Marathon. I guess run isn't the right word for that. I waddle a couple miles on Thanksgiving if it is post-marathon. Other than that, I try to take it easy for a week or so before I get back into my normal routine.

That one time I ran a Turkey Trot just days after running my first marathon...

27. I run, therefore I ________________________.Love to eat and sleep the rest of the time.

28. Pre-race routines? (night before or morning of)
I make sure everything is set out the night before so that the morning of I can get ready quickly and eat my breakfast before heading to the race start.

29. What is your typical night before the big race meal?
Pasta.

30. Would you run a marathon again?
Yes!

31. What's the farthest you've ever run at one time?
Marathon plus a bit more because my watch hit 26.2 before I reached the finish line.

32. Tucked or untucked?
Untucked.

33. Bucket list race?I have many! Obviously Boston is one of them but I think the most do-able one that I am dying to do is Rock and Roll Las Vegas. Something about running on the strip at night just seems so incredibly awesome!

Question of the Day: What is your answer to one of the questions above? 

Friday Five: 5 Things I'm Thankful For

Happy Friday, everyone! I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving yesterday and has a relaxing weekend ahead of them. I spent part of my day with my family and then the other part with John's family. It was overall a wonderful day! We're heading up the Poconos for the weekend so I'll be getting plenty of relaxation time! I have some books and fuzzy socks already packed :) Before I sign off for the weekend, I wanted to continue on with the theme of being thankful and share with you 5 things I am thankful for! 

1. My Family and Friends

I'm not sure where I would be without my supportive family and friend group. I can always count on them to be there for me in any situation. I put my family and friends together on this list because my friends are my family and vice versa :)

My favorite race spectator!

2. My Fiance

I'm not sure where to even begin with this one! John has been my rock for close to 8 years now (well, actually longer since we've been best friends since 5th grade!). I am so thankful to have him in my life to share all of our wonderful memories together.

3. Our House

When it comes to our house, there are many things I am thankful for! I am thankful that we were able to purchase the beautiful house we wanted. I am thankful that we have shelter and food within our house. And most importantly, I am thankful that we have a place to call our own.

4. Running

I won't go into much detail with this one since I had a whole post dedicated to running yesterday, but this is definitely something I am thankful for each and every day. 

5. My Job

My job provides me with many things that I am thankful for daily. It gives me an opportunity to use my degree for something I am very passionate for. My students and co-workers are wonderful and make each day great! I am so thankful I found a job in such an amazing district!


Question of the Day: What is something you're thankful for?

Thank You, Running

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you all have a wonderful day filled with family, friends, and good food! Running has been a big part of my life for many years now, giving me many different reasons to be thankful for it. Seeing as today is Thanksgiving, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to thank running for those different reasons!

Thank you, running, for introducing me to many amazing people. The running community is unlike no other and through it I have met so many wonderful people, both in person and through blogging and Instagram.

Thank you, running, for giving me an escape. Without running, I wouldn't know what to do with myself. I spend so much of my run thinking about everything under the sun. It's the best stress-reliever for me!

Thank you, running, for showing me that I can do anything. Most of my life was spent with me believing that I was in no way a runner. Running the mile in gym was a torture so why would I believe I could run more than that? Now I am a third-time marathoner who finds running fun (my younger self would be flabbergasted if they knew this!) because I started believing that I COULD do these things.

Thank you, running, for allowing me to have an extra treat here and there without any guilt. Yes, I am that person who justifies most of my food choices because I run but that's okay with me. Running has caused me to live a much healthier lifestyle than I did in the past and because of this, I can eat treats occasionally without feeling so bad. I am also thankful that because of running and my new healthier lifestyle, my favorite treats have become more on the healthy side.

Thank you, running, for giving me something different to do with my friends and family. Going on runs has become a way of hanging out with some people and I really love it! It's a way for us to spend time together while also doing something that is good for us.

Question of the Day: What would you thank running for?

Philadelphia Marathon 2018 Recap

Now that I've had a few days to think about the marathon on Sunday and gather my thoughts, I figured I'd put together a little recap of my race! Like always, I had a ton of emotions all day and it took me some time to sort those out and put the days events into words.

I'll start with the expo! Since my friend, Rachel, was coming down for the weekend to run the marathon with me (her FIRST marathon!!), I waited for her to go to the expo on Saturday. John and my little brother decided to tag along with us because they love the free stuff (at least they're honest, right?!). My brother was actually supposed to run the marathon but after getting injured right before our 20 miler, he opted out due to not feeling prepared. He still picked up his race shirt so maybe I'll end up with two shirts?!

We got to the expo around 1 or 2 pm and it wasn't over until 7 pm so we expected it still to be pretty crowded. I was honestly shocked that it wasn't too crowded and there didn't seem to be as many booths as there had been in the past. It was still a good time, though! We ended up enjoying looking at the display of previous years shirts and medals. The evolution of medal designs from 25 years ago until now was really interesting! I'm bummed I forgot to get some photos of that display and other parts of the expo but I was focusing on enjoying the moment.

Did you even go to the expo if you didn't get a bib picture?!

Now on to race day! We had a nice and early wake-up call at 4:30 am. Surprisingly I jumped out of bed feeling pretty awake so that felt good. Our goal was to leave for Philly by 5:15 am which we were able to do. Once arriving in the city, we parked at the same lot we have in the past which is only a few blocks from the Art Museum (where the start and finish is). Since it was pretty cold out, both Rachel and I decided to wear our sweatshirts to the start and then give them to John to hold in a backpack before we got in our corrals. We also wore some cheap gloves we picked up at the expo with the plan of tossing them sometime after the start (we ended up just putting them in the backpack with our jackets because we didn't feel like we needed them at the start).

The security guard who checked my hydration pack entering the starting area gave me hand warmers because he could tell I was cold. So sweet!

We got through security a lot quicker than we anticipated, which left us with a good amount of free time. I didn't want to use the bathrooms too close to starting in fear that I'd still have to go again (spoiler alert: this idea comes into play later in the day...). We pretty much just walked around until deciding to get in the port-o-potty lines. There weren't as many port-o-potties as usual so we waited a lot longer than we thought we would. Luckily we still were able to make it to our corrals by 7 am!

Once in the corral, we stood around for awhile until it was our corral's turn to start. I honestly don't remember there being as much time between each corral in the past. We didn't cross the start until sometime after 7:30 am.

I was so thankful I decided to wear an ear warmer headband for the first few miles! My ears always get SO cold!

The first half of the marathon was a good one for me! I did feel like I was going a little too fast at times but I did feel strong. It was nice to have Rachel to run with and have someone to talk to. There were some parts of the route that seemed different from last year, like we totally ran on a cobblestone street in the first few miles. I also missed the cool drummers that were outside the zoo in years past. The spectators that were out cheering were phenomenal, though! I love reading all their signs. Between miles 7 and 10 were where the hills kicked in. By this point, my legs were already a bit heavy so I tried going easy up them to conserve some energy.

The second half was where things started to go downhill for me. We saw John and Dale around mile 14 which gave me some extra energy to keep pushing until my stomach started hurting. I knew it meant I had to stop and pee so I was on the lookout for a port-o-potty (curse my super hydration and small bladder...). The location of the port-o-potties were a bit inconsistent this year so I didn't know when we would find one. I finally found one after mile 15 and rushed over to it. I told Rachel to go ahead so I wouldn't hold her back. 

I was in and out of the port-o-potty (surprisingly) within seconds and finally felt MUCH better. I could pretty much see Rachel for the next few miles. With tired legs, hills that came out of nowhere, and my motivation drifting away, it was pretty much impossible for me to catch up to her. The crowd support kept me going, though. I passed her just a minute or so before I got to the turn around so that gave me some motivation!

The rest of the race was a total mental game for me. Once I left the party that is called Manayunk, crowd support started to dwindle and so did my motivation to get to the finish line. Each mile seemed to last forever and I had to give myself many pep talks to keep my head in the game (I may have also Face timed my nephew for some extra support...). After passing the marker for mile 24, I knew I wasn't going to finish in under 5 hours unless I really picked up my pace. As much as I tried, it felt impossible. My legs were heavy, my body was tired, and the finish line felt too far away. 

I crossed the finish in 5:02:51! As much as I was disappointed in that moment that it wasn't sub-5, I'm still super proud of my 53 minute PR and being pretty darn close to under 5. I've been thinking a lot since Sunday and #RealTalkTime I acknowledge that I'm a slower runner and I'm okay with that. I don't run a marathon to beat anyone or win, I run them to prove to myself that I CAN do this. I'm only trying to get faster for myself. The fact that I finished my THIRD marathon when I over four years ago I couldn't even imagine running one is amazing to me.

Did I mention it was this girls FIRST marathon?! She rocked it!

In summary, the Philadelphia Marathon will always hold a special place in my heart. It was my first marathon in 2015 and the marathon I keep going back to. I felt stronger than years past going into this race and my time reflected that. It may not have been the performance I planned, but I was thankful to not have any random pains like I've had in the past and ran good paces for a majority of the distance! I was pretty surprised there wasn't much added to the weekend to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Philadelphia Marathon and a lot felt different than previous years, but it was still an amazing weekend!

Third time marathoner right here :)

Marathon Training: Week 18

W18D1: REST DAY

W18D2: Easy Treadmill Miles

W18D3: REST DAY

W18D4: REST DAY

W18D5: Easy Run

W18D6: REST DAY

W18D7: PHILADELPHIA MARATHON DAY!
Finished in 5:02:51!

Total Weekly Mileage: 31.2 miles
Well, that’s a wrap! After 18 long training weeks, the big day has come and gone! I had a blast and even if I missed my goal time by less than 3 minutes, I’m still super proud of my time. I still had a PR of close to 53 minutes! That’s a win in my book :) I’ll post more about the race later in the week. For now, it’s time to relax!

Friday Five: 5 Thoughts Going Into Marathon Weekend

Welp, it's finally here! Both Friday AND marathon weekend! To be honest, I wasn't sure if it would ever get here and I wasn't sure how I felt about that. I think it's safe to say that I'm super excited for marathon weekend for a number of reasons! I'm running this with one of my best friends, we are going to have such a fun weekend, I feel like I am very prepared, and more. I'm switching things up this week. Instead of my usual Friday Five, I'm sharing 5 thoughts I have going into marathon weekend. Read on! And if you're racing this weekend, whether it be Philadelphia or anywhere else, good luck!

1. This is going to be such a fun experience!
Everything about this weekend will be fun. The expo, being in Philly, spending time with friends, running my favorite distance, the post-marathon meal, etc...

2. I am so pumped to share this experience with one of my best friends.
Those who have ran a marathon in the past would agree that the marathon, from training to crossing the finish line, is a unique experience non-marathoners wouldn't understand. I can't wait to share that!

3. A PR is very likely as long as I keep a positive mindset.
I don't care if I wake up on race day and it's torrential down-pouring with wind gusts that could blow me across the Delaware River. This WILL be a good race! A positive mindset will go a long way for me.

4. Trust the training!
My training may have been rocky at times, but I worked my butt off. I need to trust that what I did prepared me for a great race.

5. USE THE BATHROOM!
The line for the port-o-potty could be 30 people deep before the start but I still have to use it to avoid what happened last year. I didn't think I really had to go and thought I could just wait until later in the race. WRONG! I spent a good 15 minutes around mile 3 waiting in line for a bathroom. Then I thought it was a fabulous idea to sprint ahead after to try and catch up with the pace group I was with. This really set the tone for my race... Whatever I do before the start, the bathroom between be top on that list!

Marathon Day Essentials

I can hardly believe that this weekend is finally the Philadelphia Marathon! With this being my 3rd year running it, I have high expectations for a fun weekend. This will be my friend’s FIRST marathon and I am super pumped to be able to share the experience with her! As the day approaches, I am certainly in a whirlwind of getting everything together so race day goes flawless. There is no way I could do this smoothly without a list, of course! Today I'm sharing with you my marathon (and other distance races) day essentials that I am personally setting aside now so that way I'm not scrambling around, looking for my socks, at 5 am! :) If I'm missing anything, let me know!

Before you read on, I just want to remind you of the one golden rule of racing: do NOT try anything new on race day!!! Whether it's clothing, fuel, or any other product, it is highly recommended to not try anything new due to the fact that you do not know how you will react to the new item. I just wanted to state this now instead of repeating it after every item on this list!

Weather appropriate outfit that was already tested - Try your best to wear an outfit you've trained in and know is comfortable! I ran all my long runs in the same clothes, depending on the weather, and those will be the clothes I have set out for Sunday morning. I'll make my decision that morning between shorts vs. capris :) I suggest doing a "flat you" days leading up to the race as both a cute Instagram post AND a way to see that you have every part of your outfit! Your running shoes should go along with this!

Your bib and/or any other tracking device- If it helps, pin the bib to your shirt ahead of time! Some races give you a shoe tag as well (Philadelphia Marathon does NOT), so remember to attach that in advance.

Sunglasses- I typically put these in my hydration pack for when the sun actually comes out.

Hydration belt or pack- I fill mine up the night before and have it ready to go on race morning.

GPS watch- Make sure whatever device you are using the track your run is fully charged and ready to go!

Phone- Whether it's for music (remember your headphones!), tracking your run, or calling someone at the finish, make sure it's fully charged and ready to go! When it comes to using headphones for music, be sure to check your specific race's rules to see if headphones are banned or not.While the Philly Marathon does not ban headphones, they are highly discouraged for your safety!

A good tried and true breakfast- Hopefully during training you found a breakfast that fuels you right! You will most likely be getting up earlier than usual and have a good amount of time between waking up and the race starting so take this into consideration when eating your breakfast. I try to wait awhile to eat after waking up because I know we have awhile until we even get to the race start and I do not want a rumbly tummy before the gun even goes off!

Fuel of choice (extras if possible!)- Whether you use gels, gummy's, sports drink, or any other form of fuel, be sure to have enough with you to last 26.2 miles! Depending on what kind of belt or pack you carry, pack extras if possible! You never know if you'll need more and the last thing you want is to be at mile 22, needing fuel, and not having any.

Water- This is for before, during, and after the race! Keep hydrated!

Body Glide- I actually keep a mini version of Body Glide in my hydration pack just in case the need arises during the race.

KT Tape- I put mine on the night before so it has time to set and also saves time in the morning!

Throw away gear- If it's cold the morning of your race, you may want to wear something old that you don't mind getting rid of so that you can ditch it at the start. Many races, such as the Philadelphia Marathon, collect the clothes left along the sidelines and donate them.

Post-race outfit- Depending on your plans after the race, you may want some clothes to change into. I suggest something warm and comfortable!

Recovery shoes- If you own any recovery sandals, pack them for afterwards! If you don't own any (like me), you might want to pack other shoes to change into after the race in case your shoes are wet or hurting your feet. Remember extra socks!

Money- It's always good to keep a couple bucks on you just in case!

Positive attitude- Last year, when I woke up the morning of the Philly Marathon, it was down pouring. I was a little discouraged but still kept a smile on my face because this was the day I had been working my butt off for! No matter what the situation is, go into race day with a positive attitude and you'll have a great time! Luckily for me, the rain stopped right before the start :)

Marathon Training: Week 17

W17D1: REST DAY

W17D2: REST DAY

W17D3: Easy Run

W17D4: REST DAY

W17D5: Easy Run
My brother has been resting his ankle for awhile now so he used today to see how he felt with running. It didn’t go as well as we planned so the run was cut (very) short so he could get back and ice and rest. I wasn’t complaining since it was freezing and raining haha.

W17D6: REST DAY
Does walking ALL over Philly in heeled boots count as a workout?! Being in Philly really got me pumped for next weekend considering we were around most of the areas we will be running through!

W17D7: 8 mile long run

Total Weekly Mileage: 11.4 miles
Is week 17 of marathon training REALLY over?! I'm pretty sure this training cycle flew by for me and I'm not really sure how. This week wasn’t my best week of training but I’m pretty confident that my previous 16 weeks of training have properly prepared me for next weekend :) Tapering is tough for me because I feel like I should just sleep all the time. Or eat. Both are good for me!

Friday Five: 5 Things I’m Loving This Week

For once, I’m not too excited it’s already Friday. I’ve had off all week so since it’s Friday, it means I only have a few days left before I have to go back to work. I’ve had a great week off, though, and it came at the perfect time being so close to the marathon. Just one more week to get through before I’m out cruising the streets of Philly for 26.2 miles! But before rushing into that, let’s get to the things I’ve been loving this past week. 

1. Pumpkin Pie Baked Oatmeal

I stumbled across this recipe awhile back but it wasn’t until this past week that I finally tried it out. It was super easy to make and has been the perfect breakfast to reheat throughout the week. I like to add milk and brown sugar to it once it’s warmed up!

2. Taste of Home Cookbook

One of John’s aunts gifted us this cookbook last year for Christmas and I have been eager to try one of the 1,314 recipes now that we have our own kitchen. John and I were both off Monday so we took advantage of the free time and chose a recipe from the book to try. We decided on Four-Cheese Baked Ziti and added some chicken to it. Luckily we only had to grab a couple ingredients from the store since we had almost everything. It was easy to make and tasted good! Now I can’t wait to try more!

3. Sarah Marie Design Studio Sweatshirt

With colder weather comes the need to bundle up and this sweatshirt is perfect for that! John gave me this sweatshirt for Christmas last year and I recently pulled it out to start wearing again now that it’s chilly. It’s the perfect sweatshirt to lounge around in and it may or may not have been a staple in my wardrobe this past week...

4. Sarah Marie Design Studio GIFs 

I could go on for days about the SMDS items I love by now I’m going to focus on something else related to them. Recently SMDS released GIFs you can use on Instagram stories and they are the cutest. Just go to the GIF section on Insta stories and type in SMDS for the full collection!

5. Wishlists

My birthday is a month from today which made me realize I should probably give John some ideas for a gift for me. Luckily, I always keep a list on my phone of wishlist items I’d like but don’t want to buy myself. This way, when John asks me what I want, I don’t have to sit and think for awhile because who can actually think of something they want when asked on the spot? I’m always adding and subtracting from my wishlist so that way it only consists of things I really do want. 

What are you loving this week?

ABC’s of Running

Happy Wednesday!! I can’t believe we are less than 2 weeks out from the Philadelphia Marathon! I’m feeling great and looking forward to my last few runs on my schedule. I’ve had these past few days off so along with getting a lot of stuff done, I’ve gotten a lot of relaxing in! Read on for some entertainment on this lovely Wednesday!

On a recent long run I decided to play a little game with myself to help pass the time. Even if I am listening to music or a podcast, I still tend to zone out and think or play mental games with myself. Sometimes I count things, like other runners, dogs, specific lawn decorations, etc., but this time I decided to come up with a word or phrase related to running for each letter of the alphabet. The word is either something that is used for running, a running tip, or any other random thought that popped into my head that somehow relates to running. I had so much fun doing this that I figured I should share it with everyone!

Ankles. Your ankles tend to be the weakest part of your legs so keep them strong to avoid injury!

Breathing. Focus on your breathing so that you don't wear out too quickly.

Cross Train. Keep working other muscles!

Dreadmill AKA Treadmill. A magical piece of equipment that makes one real-time minute equal 10 treadmill-minutes. 

Epsom Salt Baths. A must for after long runs.

Fuel. Eat what is right for you and keeps you going before, during, and after a run.

Gu. Some people love it and some people hate it. I love what it does for me during a run but sometimes don't enjoy consuming it, especially at mile 18 when I can't even imagine eating anything solid let alone gooey.

Hydration Pack or Belt. The best way to keep yourself hydrated on a longer run. Also a great thing to have during a race so you don't have to waste time at water stops.

Ice Bath. I've personally never tried one but they seem to be a great way to recover.

Jogger. No, we are runners! 

KT Tape. My lifesaver for my ankle during a long run.

Long Runs. Personally my favorite part of training.

Marathon. 26.2 miles of feeling every emotion imaginable. 

Never Try Anything New on Race Day. A golden rule of running. Also a rule I have broken but luckily benefited from.

Oofos. Recovery sandals that have been on my wish list for awhile now! Maybe I'll break down and buy them before Philly next weekend!

Port O' Potties. A place at races where I see longer lines than those at Walmart on Black Friday.

Quitting. Something you're not allowed to do in running. Unless you're injured, of course!

Reflective Gear. A must-have if you're going to run in the dark.

Strength Training. Because running doesn't work out all the muscles.

Trust Your Training. Don't doubt yourself the day of a race. You trained for this. You've got this!

Ultra Marathon. Any distance longer than a marathon. Something on my bucket list!

Virtual Race. A race that you do on your own time but can still get a medal, bib, and sometimes a shirt for doing it. 

Water. I can't emphasize it enough... DRINK YOUR WATER.

X-Rays. Hopefully you never need to get one!

Yasso, Bart. The (retired) Mayor of Running and overall coolest runner in my book.

Zzzz. Running makes you sleep A LOT. Whether it's the night before a run or right after a run, sleep happens.

Marathon Training: Week 16

W16D1: REST DAY

W16D2: Easy Run
 3 after work tired miles.

W16D3: REST DAY

W16D4: REST DAY

W16D5: Easy Run + Strength Training + Cross Training
3 early morning miles.
20 minutes strength training
2 miles on the rowing machine.

W16D6: REST DAY

W16D7: 10 mile long run

Total Weekly Mileage: 16 miles
Tapering is always so weird for me! I enjoy the lower mileage and having more time for other things (like rest!!) but then I feel like I’m not doing anything to prepare for the marathon. I know rest is best but it’s a mental game over here for me. I’m feeling really good about my training right now, though. I had an overall pace of 9:53 for my 10 miles and I felt great the whole time! I can’t belive we’re already 2 weeks out from the marathon?! This time will fly!

Friday Five: 5 Things I’m Loving This Week

Source: Facebook

This meme I found on Facebook literally sums up how this week went for me as a teacher! I am seriously SOO pumped it’s Friday because now I have NINE day break thanks to the NJ teachers convention. After not having any days off the past two months, this week off is much needed. Before that can happen though, I have to get through one more day of work! To help kick off the weekend, enjoy reading about what I’ve been loving this week!

1. Pumpkin Banana Oatmeal

One of my favorite bloggers, Maureen of Maureen Gets Real, recently shared this recipe and I just had to try it! My verdict? It was DELISH! I had a can of pumpkin in my cabinet that I've just been itching to use so this was the perfect opportunity. I had it on Saturday for lunch and then ate the leftovers on Sunday and they were just as yummy the next day!

2. Hot Chocolate with Frozen Cool Whip

Hot chocolate is by far my favorite drink when it's cold out. A little way I make it even more amazing is by adding frozen cool whip in place of marshmallows! Marshmallows tend to melt quickly, especially the teeny tiny ones, and don't add much to hot chocolate, in my opinion. When you add a dollop of frozen cool whip you not only add some yummy flavor, but it also cools down the hot chocolate quickly so that you can drink it sooner. Win-win if you ask me!

3. Baked Potato Soup

John has been bugging me to make him baked potato soup lately since it's his favorite and he wanted to take it to lunch. This past weekend we finally took the time to craft together a baked potato soup recipe he found online (I am not sure of the recipe link but honestly most looked the same to me when we were looking). It was pretty easy and only took a couple hours in the Crock pot. I'm not really a fan of potatoes and have been trying my best to avoid melted cheese, but holy moly was this stuff good! Like any soup, it's the perfect meal for a chilly day.

4. Christmas Shopping

To avoid crowds come early December, I've started ordering some Christmas presents already! I love to get things done in advance so I typically try to start Christmas shopping a few months ahead of time. This also gives me time to think about what I want to get people instead of just grabbing the first thing I see.

5. Mellowcreme Pumpkins

I am so proud of myself this year because I hardly consumed any candy this Halloween. We chose not to purchase any to hand out and all that was given to me is hidden on the top shelf of one of my kitchen cabinets. However, I did give in and purchase one bag of mallow creme pumpkins while at the grocery store on Monday. Candy corn and the pumpkins are something I really like but get sick of quickly so I usually just buy a small bag and make it last for awhile. I'll probably still be snacking on these come December considering how long it'll take me to eat them!