November Wrap Up and Final 2022 Tending List

Hi friends! This is kind of a special post because it may be my last tending list sharing for a while. I’ve been doing this kind of post once a month for years now and I’m not sure it’s serving me as well anymore. To be honest, I had a moment where I wondered if I wanted to quit personal blogging all together next year and only focus on once a month posts for Phoenix Moms, but instead I realized I need to shakes some things up and try something a little different first before jumping ship. More on that in an upcoming post, but in the meantime, here’s a recap of November and a peak at my final tending list of 2022… Continue reading

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2022 NYC Marathon Recap and Reflections

Training and fundraising for and completing the NYC Marathon became one of my biggest goals and focuses for this year. It is the biggest challenge I’ve taken on in a very long time and I wanted to make sure I had a record of the experience while my thoughts were still fresh. It has been hard for me to write a race recap because I feel like there is SO MUCH to say about race weekend and at the same time like it was all such a blur and hard to express. But writing tends to help my thoughts so I’m just going to write a ton (and believe it or not this is an abridge version compared to what I journaled…) and no one is obligated to read any of it, so if you want to read on grab your favorite cozy drink and settle in for the long ramblings of my race weekend experiences… Continue reading

“I’ve never run this far before…”

Last weekend I ran 15 miles for my long run. This was a HUGE shift in my marathon training as up until this point I have run a half marathon distance or less for my long runs- a distance that I have run before. While that distance started getting hard with no “course support” or cheering fans that I am used to having if going above ten miles, it was not nearly as intimidating as suddenly being back in the place where I have to think to myself “I have never run this far before.” Continue reading

Dear Treadmill: An Open Letter to my Favorite Instrument of Torture

Dear Treadmill,

I suppose I should start by apologizing for all the names I’ve called you so far this summer: the classic “dreadmill” title and the inside joke “trashmill” with my race twin, or the oh so straightforward “Satan’s Spawn” because I know calling you those names doesn’t help either of us, and probably makes me psych myself out about using you even more. But man, it sometimes feels like you really truly deserve it. Continue reading

You Can’t Harmonize Alone…

If you read my intro posts for the year, you know that one of my themes is Instrument and that refers not only to our familial undertaking of becoming a more musical household, but also to the prayer that inspired me to have instrument as my word of the year– Lord, Make me an Instrument of your Peace. Continue reading

How I Started Trail Running and Tips If You Want to As Well!

It is finally cooling off again! One of the most exciting things about that for me is that I can return to trail running- something I still consider myself to be a bit of a beginner at, but that I have done for about a year now. SO I thought I’d share a bit about how I started trail running and what I would say to someone who might be interested in doing the same! Continue reading

Sometimes a Did Not Finish is the Best Choice…

When I was training for my half marathon back in late 2018/early 2019 I had one possibility that pulled me out of bed to train even on the mornings where I was least interested in doing so and on the evenings when I had insanely long days with the kids… Continue reading

Good Gifts For…. The RUNNER in your life

Well, we are entering that time of year when gifts are a thing… these choices can feel stressful sometimes, so I thought I’d share some good gifts I’ve received or hope to receive over this post and the next in case some of you are looking for some inspiration! First up- some suggestions for the runners in your life! (but lots of these can work for  a variety of athletes!)

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Favorite Running Mantras (that are also pretty good Life Mantras)

Sometimes I need a little extra push or motivation when I’m running. And I need it to be something simple enough that I can keep it in my head while doing something physically daunting like running. Here are a few that I’ve been using this past year, and some ways they are useful for other things in life for those of you who were thinking of skipping this entry because running sounds horrible to you (I can’t blame you. I used to be you. I still am you some days…) Continue reading