I darkened my hair yesterday! As I was taking the selfie a man was getting out of his car next to me and gave me a strange look. I almost rolled down my window to say, “Oh, I am just taking a selfie because I had my hair done and want to show my internet friends because we’ve all known each other for a very long time, and I tell them everything that is going on in my life,” but decided that may have made things more uncomfortable than they already were.
Let’s go ahead and catch up on the last few days with some favorite things sprinkled in and finish up with a Q&A!
An indoor walk on my walking pad yesterday morning.
Did anyone run the Las Vegas Marathon? I need details! Was the weather perfect? How were those final miles after going downhill? Details please!
Those book fairs always get me… How do we say no to our kids wanting to read MORE?
Dr. Bennett ((801)513-1078)) helping me get through this injury as fast as possible… He unjammed my back and I feel very lucky!
My house goal is to never have to turn on my overhead lights (I just want to feel cozy indoors), so the more items I find to light up spaces like these trees from Amazon, the better. I think they are so pretty.
No more reaching around to try and find my phone cord… just stick this anchor on your side table and life is a little easier when I am so tired at night I can barely see straight.
These two Costco things plus some rice make the easiest fast dinner. Knox says he is addicted to this chicken.
Bless my hair gal’s heart for sending me home with color so I can touch up my gray hair when needed.
I picked up some pickle roulette. We were nervous. We had no need to be nervous because we couldn’t even tell which ones were pickle and which ones weren’t.
Some much needed time with my mom outside.
Now for some Q&As that I got from Instagram the other day:
Favorite color? Number? Space/room in your house? Tv show? Movie? Broadway play? (She asked Andrew and the kids to answer, too)!
Me: Green, 22, my fireplace in my bedroom, Modern Family, any movie that makes me cry because I am strange like that, Hamilton.
Andrew: Black, doesn’t have one, main room, Shrinking, Hustle, never been to one.
Brooke: Red, 6, main room, The Office, The Santa Clause, School of Rock.
Knox: Black, 11, his room, Stranger Things, Wild Robot, School of Rock.
Skye: White, 8, wherever her toys are, Bluey, Harry Potter, never been to one.
Beck: Blue, 6, playing trains in the main room, Bluey, Sandlot, never been to one.
When you consume the Maurten 160 gel, do you drink any water still?
-I just got my first ones so I haven’t tried them yet… Can anyone else answer this?
Tips for running postpartum
-Give yourself all of the grace. I wish I had treated myself postpartum after Brooke the way I did after Beck, but such is life. Please be kind and gentle with yourself. Remind yourself of the miracle your body just performed. Don’t waste time comparing because each woman and each pregnancy is different, so listen closely to your body and your needs. That infant stage goes by so quickly, so enjoy (and sleep) as much as possible before getting back out running. I found walking still gave me that time outdoors, and I could bring my little one with me. The run/walk method is how I always get back into things. Make sure to get the okay from your doctor (I started way too soon with Brooke and dealt with an injury for a while because of that)! Running is always there when we are ready, and when I was most patient (with Beck), I hit all of my PRs once I was back at it! Oh, and reset your watch and celebrate your new accomplishments in your new season of life.
How do you come to terms with your family being complete?
-I can’t. I know this isn’t something to stress over, but I am stressed. I’ll be 39 in February, and my mind/heart sway extreme both ways. Please help!
When did your latest injury get bad? After or before STG? Hope you heal up soon!
-I felt it in my leg the week before the race, but during the race, it got bad, and then I think biking made it even worse because I was using poor posture the two weeks I was doing it after the race.
Best way to recover quickly from a cold? I’m coughing, and scared of losing progress.
-So much rest and I swear by my sister’s green smoothies… when I drink them daily I never get sick and if I am feeling sick and start drinking them again, I feel better faster. Currently, I put in at least a half lb of power greens (spinach, chard, kale), chia seeds (about 1/4th cup), a frozen banana, frozen berries, ice, and water.
Is your lulu vest rose blush?
-No, it’s Twighlight Rose!
Can you make a YouTube channel?
-I have one but it’s just random clips from over the years. I try all of the different platforms but blogging is my true love and I’ll keep doing it until I’m too old to remember my password.
Treadmill running tips?
-Distractions galore. Save your favorite show or podcast for your treadmill runs. They will make the time fly! Vary things to keep your brain busy, I used to love varying the incline and or speed every minute. Remind yourself how mentally strong it is making you while you get in your workout (love a 2-for-1 deal). Have everything you need there so you have no reason to jump off- your drinks, your chapstick, a towel, whatever you need! Rotate in strength work if that helps your mind… i.e., run a mile, get off and do squats/lunges/pushups, and then get back on for a mile. I really find speed workouts to be the best on the treadmill!
Miles per shoe?
-Depends on the shoe! The Vaporflys I can usually get 200 out of them (but only race with them if they have less than 100 on them), the adidas Adizero I can get 500-600 out of them. For normal trainers, I usually get about 400!
New follower- what is your injury and how are you doing?!
-I have a bulge/protruding disc in my lower back between my L5 & S1, affecting the S1 nerve. I was having a ton of pain that was affecting my daily life, but now things are feeling so much better. A full post will come soon on everything I’ve done to help it. It isn’t affecting my daily life anymore, but I’ll feel it here or there or when I sit for longer than ten minutes, and I’m just waiting to feel 100% before I try running again or other high-impact activities. I am really worried about it happening again and so I will come back very slowly whenever I do.
Mantra or what recenters you when the pain has been tough and running isn’t available.
-You’ve made it through 100% of your darkest days (and there have been some dark ones). I also really believe in the idea that mood follows actions and I know if I get laughing with Andrew and the kids or outside in fresh air with my people, everything will be better. Walking has been something that has helped my body and brain so much through this injury and so I’ve done a lot of that.
Have you found anything else that compares to the runners high?
-Nope;). After my swim with Andrew last week, I told him that I have one true exercise love, and that is Running. Biking would come in 2nd if I had to choose something else! I do love the way strength training makes me feel and getting stronger, but it’s not that post-run “I feel like I can conquer the world, everything on the planet is right, nobody could make me mad, all of my stress is gone” feeling that I get after a long run or speed workout.
Do you still looooove candy?
-Absolutely, but probably not as strongly as in my 20s. I LOVE seeing a new candy that we’ve never tried at the store and bringing it home to rate with my family, and I’ll always strongly believe Swedish Fish cures any bad day, but if I had to choose, baked goods now win in my book.
Did you end up trying anything new for acne? Struggling with it myself!
-Nothing yet, but I have an appointment with the derm coming up. I am trying to use less products on my face, and I actually think that might be helping… I’m also trying to touch it less and avoid picking at ALL costs. I have been a picker over the years when I am feeling anxious, so I’m really working on stopping that!
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Favorite color? Number? Space/room in your house? Tv show? Movie? Broadway play?
Any questions for a future blog post?
What are your Friday night plans?
