13.1 - How I trained for my FIRST half-marathon!

I believed I could and so I did.
I committed. I trained. I listened.
​I f***ing believed with every part of my being.

Saturday- April 17th, 2021 - I completed my first ever half marathon in just over two hours.
As I saw my tracker turn to 13.1, I cried. Cried. And cried some more. I knew I was strong, after all my maiden last name (now my middle name) is strong, yet going through this experience reminded me so how truly strong I am. How truly committed I am. How truly determined I am. How truly raw hard-work is.

As I finished my run, so too did I see my people, my husband and daughter picnicking by the car at Califia State Beach with this adorable sign. You did it. Yes, I did it. I freaking did it! I trained my butt off for the last three months and I did it. The feeling, so insanely empowering. The sensation, so vibrantly loud with pride.

One of the questions I’ve been getting asked most is why am I doing this?
Why did I do this?
Truth is, I did this because my anxiety attacks, were happening far too often in an intensity far too great for my being. After one Sunday afternoon of feeling like my heart was going to beat out of my chest, I sat down. I free wrote everything that was consuming my time, my attention, my emotional investment. Through it all, I realized I was giving and giving and giving and doing NOTHING to fill back up my cup. I was depleted. I was empty. I was overly exhausted. I made a commitment right then and there to take better care of myself, to fill back up my cup. Running has always been my equilibrium, so I committed. Not only to running again, but to running in a capacity I had never done. Run a half marathon. That was it. I did a ton of research and started training. The best commitment I could have made for myself, for my daughter, for my husband, for my clients, for my business, for everything.
I am more grounded, calm, centered, confident than I have been in a very long time.

I share this, as inspiration.
I share this, as we are all mirrors to one another.
I share this, in hopes that sharing my truth, my commitment, my dedication - it too inspires you to do the same.

We are all such incredibly dynamic, strong, determined humans capable of ANYTHING we put our minds to.
Never forget that.
Please, never forget that.
​You are great and destined to do great things!

My training program & tools that helped along the way! 

1. First thing I did, research, research, research. 

2. I found a training program that felt supportive for me (see the photo below).  I then scheduled all my runs in my planner, ensuring it remained as a commitment. It wasn't an option. 

3. To make the dates possible, I so graciously had the support of my husband who would handle the babes when he was home and my mom who would come up on my training/ work days when he was off. 

4. I researched hydration techniques, when and what to eat before/after each run, the best shoes and cat, to carry a water pack or not, running techniques and so much more. I really applied what felt most aligned. It was trail and error with my shorter runs. 

• Hydration techniques - I would ensure to really hydrate the day before long runs. The morning of runs, I would immensely drink a whole water bottle of water, then have my cup of coffee.
• What to eat before/after runs - While having my coffee I would eat a half of peanut butter and banana toast. Then, 30 minutes before my run I would drink emergency-c. After my runs, I would have a large glass of water with a whole sachet of drip-drop followed by a smoothie. 
  • Favorite smoothie - frozen banana, blueberries, spinach, 1 scoop of protein powder, a heaping spoon of peanut butter and either almond or oat milk 
• Best shoes and hat - Nike baby 
  • ​Shoes - Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 36 Women's Running Shoe  
  • Hat - NIKE Womens Golf Dri-FIT Swoosh Front Cap
• To water pack or not? Through research, I didn't want to carry a water-pack while running so I really focused on hydrating 

5. I started really documenting the process and my progress. Then, it itself served as such an inspiration. I would share my progress and as I started running longer, so too did my desire to create videos. 

6. I utilized apps to track my progress and plan my runs. 

• Strava for tracking my runs. 
• Footpath for mapping out my pants and knowing exactly how many miles it would be. 

7. I bought an outfit from Fabletics, specially for this half marathon. I strategically bought it at the beginning of my training and it stayed in the bag until the day before my half-marathon. Although it may seem silly, this was a physical reminder, a "reward" for getting to this day. A present to myself. 

8. I so humbly had the opportunity to have THREE massages by the insanely talented and intuitive massage therapist, Ashley Jo! THIS WAS EVERYTHING! We did connective tissue manipulation. We freed the fluid of the body by unbinding the tissues so they could get nutrients quicker and work  more efficiently. We also put you into a state of pure relaxation so that the body could actually heal itself. So with this technique we softened and freed the muscles and surrounding vessels and used the nervous system to create a perfect state of healing for your tired body to create rejuvenation and rebuilding and repair.

• One after my biggest push run (week 7 - 12 miles)
• The second the day before my half marathon 
• The last one, two days after my half marathon  

Highlight - Week 6 : 11 mile push 

Highlight - Week 7 : 12 mile push 

Highlight - Week 8 : 9 mile push