Advice for Avoiding Injuries Moderation is key! Often times we get so excited jumping into training or overzealous when running starts to actually feel good that the tendency is to overdo a good thing. But conservatively adding distance, frequency and intensity to workouts is a smart move in the long run that will allow you to build a solid foundation.
Bedtime Ritual I swear by a hot shower before bed. Not only does it feel fantastic to wash away the day and slip into clean sheets, but it adjusts your core temperature so you’re ready to wind down by the time you hit the sack. Read More
Best Life Advice I've Received “Tomorrow’s another day” was one of my grandfather’s favorite sayings. It’s so simple yet rings so true—no matter what happens today, good or bad, tomorrow is a clean slate.
Book I Re-Read A Life Without Limits: A World Champion’s Journey by triathlete Chrissie Wellington. The fact that someone who is so extraordinary can also be so relatable, approachable and vulnerable is super inspiring. It never ceases to pump me up and make me feel that all things are possible.
Favorite Quote “Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.” –John Wooden Just because you can’t do something right off the bat doesn’t mean it’s not worth the effort. Perhaps you’ll improve, perhaps you’ll triumph or perhaps you’ll just learn something in the process. But regardless of how things turn out, your efforts won’t be in vain.
Finding Healthy Balance in Life As I get older, I realize that balance comes in cutting yourself some slack. Living too rigidly just isn’t sustainable.
Health "Secret" Everyone Should Know My favorite “secret” for sustaining a fit lifestyle is to take those rest days before you need them. Otherwise, you’ll end up digging yourself into a hole that can be tough to climb out of.
How I Jumpstart My Day Pre-baby, there was nothing better than a good early-morning workout topped off with a big cup of coffee on the way home With a newborn, though, sleep is at a premium most mornings, so I focus on proper fueling to help get my day going and keep me from crashing mid-morning Read More
I Feel Powerful When... Being healthy and strong helps me feel confident in my own skin. By treating my body with respect – fueling it properly, moving it consistently and taking care of it with chiropractic work, acupuncture, massages and stress relief – I am making an investment in longevity, which makes me feel powerful.
Mantra When Life Gets Tough It may sound trite, but I really do believe that “everything happens for a reason.” When I’ve been sidelined by injuries while training, it taught me a lot about adjusting my approach to workouts and has made me a better runner over the years. Nothing worthwhile comes easy, so earning those personal records the hard way makes them all the more rewarding.
Most Important Running Advice A lot of runners hold tension in the upper body, which wastes precious energy. During my track and field days in high school, I learned to imagine holding a potato chip in each hand. Your fists shouldn’t be balled up tightly, and you should try to keep the “chip” from “crumbling.” This translates to a more relaxed upper body and more fluid movement.
On-the-Go Snack One of my favorite on-the-go snack recipes at the moment are these Chocolate Chunk cookies. Yep, I said “cookie,” but these are packed with healthy ingredients – good fats, lots of fiber and a whole lot of healthy nutrients. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that they’ve got lactation-friendly ingredients.
Song That Makes Me Dance My Girl by The Temptations I was born outside of Detroit, so there’s nothing like a little Motown music to get you moving!
Spice Up Your Running Routine Just add friends! Some of my favorite workouts have been the ones where I’m not going at it solo. Whether you’re mixing up your workout with cross-training or grabbing some miles while catching up with buddies, the camaraderie that comes from sweating with other people is underrated!
Training Routine for Beginning Runners The best way to start running is to…start running! So many of us get caught up in figuring out the correct approach that we forget it’s just one foot in front of the other. Read More