Another month is starting and we are here for it. It’s time for a May coffee date, and I am ready to share! After reading here, head on over to visit Coco and Deborah, our awesome link-up hosts. Over coffee, I would tell you… That I have enjoyed the new Foxtail Coffee in my area multiple times this month at different locations. Foxtail is an Orlando chain that has just entered the Northeast Florida area. Interestingly, when I’ve visited in Orlando, it’s less for the coffee and more for the Kelly’s Ice Cream they also serve. However, the pistachio cold brew with pistachio cold ..read more

Friends, you know I love potatoes, and so it should be no surprise that I took on the Spud Run 10K this past week. Ok. Maybe the 10K was a little bit of a surprise, but there were reasons. Sometimes, you just have to go big. How did it go? Let’s get into it. Why The 10K? The Spud Run offers three events: a 5K, a 10K, and a 15K Challenge (runners do the 10K, then go right back out for the 5K). I’ve actually done all three races over the years, but this year, I had to go for the 10K on its own. It had a start time of 7:00AM and I was on call for a huge mulch fundraiser weekend. My plan was to ru ..read more

Welcome to the last week of April, where the rubber meets the road meets my sanity! It’s going to be a crazy month end, as juggle a weekend of mulch volunteering, a 10K, AND A’s 16th birthday. Has my training prepared me for all the things? I guess there’s only one way to find out. Sunday Cardio: 4.64 miles, walking This week went so quickly, I barely have great photos! Seriously! We kicked things off with a walk (of course), and then it was home to catch up on work and try to get ahead on things. I mentioned on IG that I am struggling with functional freeze… I get so overwhelmed with the ta ..read more

Yesterday, we talked about my typical race morning, but today I want to at how I get mentally prepared for race day. You may have guessed I am a bit of a hot mess around events or “big moments” so the week (or two) leading up to race day can set me right on edge. It’s funny because I really do love running and racing… I just have to get to the start line. Here are the things that create mental obstacles for me on race day. Choosing The Right Fit One of the things I always need to work out is my outfit. Right now, I’ve lost a little weight/changed body composition, so I have a few pair of short ..read more

Now that I am back in the racing mindset, I’d love to share more about my typical race morning. Runners are a pretty superstitious bunch (in my opinion) and I think many of us have pretty tried and true routines to get them to the start line. I count myself among those superstitious folk, and I have my own set of protocols and regimens that help keep me on track on race mornings. The Pre-Work I am nothing if not prepared, so the night before any race is spent getting organized. This is the time to lay out my flat runner, and pack a small bag. I make sure I have things like socks, sunglasses, k ..read more

Here we are, another week closer to summer vacation, and this week was prom week. I can’t believe it. Obviously, it’s been a long time since I attended a prom, so I was so excited to be part of all this excitement! Sunday Cardio: 4.15 miles, walking We had plans for a down day, but I couldn’t turn down a morning walk. And then I did the thing I do best these days… made a grazing box. Monday Cardio: 6.2 miles, running + .15 miles, walking Strength: Legs + Abs, 50 minutes Hello, Monday! I had a really good and productive run. I always love starting the week like that. Maybe it had something ..read more

In the last 12 year of running, I earned a lot of favorite medals. I could argue that all of them are favorites, but there are really a few that do stand out. Let’s take a look. Florida Striders Memorial Day 5K (2013) This was the first medal I ever earned in the first formal race I ever ran. There is something super special about a first, don’t you think? It’s certainly not the biggest or the shiniest, but it was the OG and I treasure it. Space Coast Half Marathon (2013) Speaking of firsts, let’s take it back to the 2013 Space Coast Half Marathon. I registered for this race before I even ran ..read more

I hope I’m not alone when I say there is a race I try to run every year. While I have a lot of favorites, there is one race in particular for which I keep registering. It’s the Florida Striders Memorial Day 5K, and it occurs on Memorial Day each year. Why is it so great? I’d love to share! The Memorial Day 5K Was My First Ever Race! Way back in 2013, when I started running, the Memorial Day 5K was the first race I ever ran. It worked out with the timing of my training, it was around my birthday, and it provided a medal. For me, these things checked all the boxes, and I was hooked! The Race Is ..read more

Y’all. This week. What a whirlwind. Literally. We had the eclipse. And then we had a whole EF1 tornado in my literal neighborhood. I need a nap. Let’s get into it. Sunday Cardio: 3.17 miles, walking I started the day with a little lie-in and a walk. From there, it was off to brunch with good friends. It was the most glorious day, and we had a great time chatting about summer vacations. Monday Cardio: 7.43 miles, running Happy Eclipse Day! I started the morning with a solid run, followed by errands. I wanted to be in the house by the time the event happened. It’s also worth noting I got a ..read more

Running advice can be tricky: sometimes unsolicited guidance can come across as judgmental rather than encouraging. It’s a fine line, and should be navigated carefully. That being said, there are some bright spots in the advice I’ve received, and I’d love to share it. Don’t Compare Your Journey To Anyone Else’s Your running journey is yours alone. Comparison is the thief of joy, so there is no point in comparing yourself to anyone else. This has really served me well, especially on the days when running feels absolutely impossible and I am super discouraged. I just keep my chin up, and push fo ..read more