Tag team, BACK AGAIN.

Sooooo...another long hiatus from the blog world -- consistency isn't my skill, okay? 

Recap: Winter. Winter was *ROUGH* This was my second year in Michigan, and last year I thought that was how winter in the Midwest went. A little snow, some cold, you know.... 

No. This winter. Wow. Snow on snow on snow. 

(My first shovel experience!)

Snowy Sunset. February.

Ridiculous snow storm mid March.

Those are just a few. It was crazy. It definitely prepared me for post-graduate living in NoDak. For those of you that don't know (which let's face it, everyone knows because no strangers read this blog) -- I'm relocating to North Dakota May 4th! what? yep. This Texas girl will be braving the plains of NoDak. Lord help me. Seriously.

Future roomies! Long distance no more!

Super excited and a weeeee bit stressed with packing, school, work, and job searching. Oh, and marathoning in my free time *ha* Marathon #2 set for May 10th in Fargo, North Dakota. woot woot! Training this time around has been great. I'm still using Hal Higdon's Novice 1 plan, since last time around I was injured and didn't get to finish the training plan as scheduled. I feel great, my pace has been great, and I've enjoyed (most) of my runs. My Garmin Forerunner 220 watch doesn't hurt, either :)


Best running-related purchase (well, gift) ever.

SOOO -- after all the time I've taken off, not too much has changed :) Still a student (for a month more!), still running, and still making fun treats like this:

(Homemade "larabars")


Turkey meatballs - per usual.

I'm hoping to resume my regular schedule (at least once a week) soon to start blogging about graduation, packing to move across the country (again), job searching, nesting, and the hilarity that will ensue while learning to live with Mike Tidd. :)

Until next time,

Suck it up, Suck it in (Winter Mantra)

Welllllll, it's starting to get cold here in Michigan. Much to my disappointment.

It's also about to start getting dark at 3:00pm (okay, that's a little exaggeration, but not by much!) -- which is REALLY going to put a damper on my evening runs. I need to get a night running jacket, but those babies aren't cheap, and $75 dollars on a yellow construction vest does NOT appeal to me. Crazy, I know they're all the fashion rage. Oh well, I've been scouring the racks at Marshall's almost daily with no luck, but I am hoping the fashion gods...or the running gods, will take pity on me and send one my way. Or my parents, hell, anyone will do :) 

I've decided to do two halfs through the winter to help keep me motivated to run outside and not gain the dreaded winter weight, so I'm doing one in January and March. 

Yes, March is still winter. No joke. Kill me now. Doing the halfs will help keep me conditioned for the Fargo full in May, so I thought why not? Plus they're cheap and who doesn't love big shiny medals? Seriously, who doesn't?!

In addition to this, I've decided to cut out sweets for 30 days, and I started Sunday. So, I will be able to have dessert for Thanksgiving. But, lately my sweet tooth (teeth?) have been a little out of control, so this should help. It's going to be hard with the potluck on Thursday at work, but I will survive :) I'm also cutting out booze -- except this Saturday because it's the UM/MSU game -- GO GREEN. So, other than that though...30 days of no sweets and 29 of no booze. Should be interesting. I just want to start the holiday season off right, and this will be easier than the Whole 30 I was considering. So, I will keep you guys posted :) I'm trying to suck it up now so I don't have to suck it in for my big 2-6 :)

Ok, quick post, but I have to prepare for my case presentation tomorrow :) Fall semester is coming to a close soon (I am finished with the semester early, Dec 2nd!) so I have a lot coming up, which is exciting and a pain in the ass all at the same time. I can *finally* see the light at the end of the tunnel...and by the end of April I will *officially* be finished with grad school. Crazy thought.


I just love this. #socialworkeducation

Until next time!

Post - Marathon: Now what?!

Well, this is odd.
My perspective is so different because I didn't get to complete all my training..but I'm still kind of left with this weird feeling post-marathon. What the heck to do now? I know I am planning to do the Fargo Full in May (woohoo!), but that's a ways out. With winter coming, I am already dreading the lack of sunlight and warmth that I love about Michigan summer and fall. So, I know this is something a lot of runners feel post-race, and I think it's worth talking about.

So, first -- I eat. An emphasis on high nutrient foods will aid recovery and help you not gain weight, but I've had a combo of super healthy and super UN-healthy foods :) That's okay by me.  I also have been SLEEPING soooo much. The week post-marathon I felt like I slept like the dead, and I got a lot more sleep. I think my body needed it to avoid getting sick (as my allergies decided to attack). 

I got a book on running, reading about people's favorite marathons. It's fun to read while I'm enjoying some down time. I also got a "fun" book -- not related to school or anything, and by one of my favorite authors, Jonathon Tropper. Look out, THIS GIRL IS EXCITING.

Yoga. Spin. I love you. Do other exercises that you love, because you can :)

It's hard not to look straight forward to the next thing, but I think it's important to allow myself to settle into this, and really appreciate and revel in my accomplishment. Simply looking to the next thing isn't going to allow me to do that fully. 

I just stumbled upon this cool "Reverse Taper" guide that looks really helpful, and I'll start this next week on "week two" -- it could work for half marathons, too, just cut it in half. I'll do a follow up post on how I liked this plan.

I also just ordered Racing Weight by Matt Fitzgerald (the same guy who wrote the runners nutrition guide I bought). It talks about getting to your optimal race weight for optimum performance.

Tidbits I learned for next race: 

1. Put my phone in a Ziploc in case it rains (because for me, it usually does on race day). 

2. Prepare for rain just in case. Trash bags for your body (ghetto-poncho style) and trash sacks for your shoes. 

3. Pack and unpack and pack if you're traveling for your race. It will ease your mind and ensure you don't forget anything. Luckily my next race will probably be in my new home city.

4. Prepare meals and snacks in advance. Don't try anything new. 

5. After your race, you're going to want to eat and drink *whatever* you want -- but seriously, give it time. Or, if you don't -- stay at that restaurant a while so you avoid almost pooping your pants in your boyfriends car. Trust me on this one.  If you have a sensitive stomach, don't get crazy. Your stomach will get you. Also, walk. I think Michael parking far away forced me to walk and move that lactic acid out.

6. Body glide extra. And then some more. Chafing is NO joke. 

7. Pack extra running nutrition (Gu or chews or whatever you like). I almost ran out and luckily Kelly's mom had some more for her, which I used :) 

8. If it's going to be cold when you start, take throw away layers. This last race was the first time I've done it and it helped A LOT.

9. If you're sticking with a pace group, chat with those around you when you're getting tired. It will help pass the time and you'll learn about fellow racers. 

10. Don't rely solely on your music. Take in the course, the runners, the spectators. 

11. Say thankyou to the spectators when they encourage you or have cute signs. That's why we pay to run these courses, it's simply not the same without the crowd support. So what they're strangers. They help you get to the next mile.

I learn something new after each race, and this time I learned quite a bit, with it being my first marathon. I cannot get over it, still.
This time three years ago, had someone asked me if I'd be one of those early-rising runners, cold-weather runners, long distance runners, I'd have laughed and said, "Nope. Never"

But, after getting into running, running a marathon was a "maybe someday" ... then a "hopefully someday" and now...it's a reality. I really didn't think that running the race would be so special to me. But, it was. And will continue to be, my greatest accomplishment to date. Such a testament to listening to my body, my heart, my God. 

A hilariously accurate video on running a marathon for your viewing pleasure:

Marathon Training: Week 1

Ok, ladies and gents! I've started my training :) I was going to wait another week but I was getting anxious, and the first week is light, so I went ahead and started it. I've tried to develop a phrase from my group therapy class that I love -- Go forward with relaxed intent.

Key word: relaxed intent. 
This is fun -- not a super stressful thing that I beat myself up over if I have a less-than-stellar run or I'm not feeling it one morning and my run ends up being a little short or whatever. The idea behind relaxed intent is that I will enjoy it, try to reduce stress over it because this is elective, joyful, and exciting. Something I (mostly) enjoy. A bucket-list goal. An insane decision that makes me feel like I'm a little bit unstable --- but whatever :) I'm not the only crazy one, and if I'm gonna be nuts, why not be fit, too? (: Yes, these things actually go through my head...
Anyway -  why freak out and give myself an added stress when the Lord knows I have plenty of other things to be stressing about.

Love this. 

In the single digits away from being in the beautiful land of Texas :) God's country, as we like to say :)
I cannot waittttttttttt. The joy my family (both given and chosen) brings me is nothing that I could ever describe in words. I am SO thankful - every day - to have them. Also so excited to visit my home church. I haven't been there *in the flesh* since last Christmas.
Very fun. Excitingggg.

Not so exciting? The bf is in Norway. While it's a 7 hour time difference, the pictures I've seen are GORGEOUS and I'm beyond jealous. :/ I'm getting pictures like this:

(going to the grocery store has never looked so glamorous)
Sup Norway?!

Anywho-
This is what I'll be doing for the next 16 weeks (:
Hal Higdon's plan for Marathon training (Novice 2)

So excited to get started on this!
Anyone who is doing a marathon HAS to read Marathon by Hal Hidgon. It is the BEST motivator and has some really great advice. I will forever be a fan of Hal. His system works, y'all.


Got some Clif Shots to try out, as they'll be the sponsored gel at the Twin Cities Marathon. I also got some Honey Stinger waffles and chews (previously written about) and I think I got another thing to try. I need to get some Powerade Ion 4, as that's the sports drink they'll provide. AND after research and lots of positive reviews, I got some compression socks. I'll let you know how I like them. My sweet friend Jodi gave me a heads up on a sale from pro compression so I got them 40% off! whaaatyessss.

I'm also implementing these diet changes starting this week from Matt Fitzgerald's book that I read, The New Nutrition Guide for Marathoners and Half-Marathoners. I would definitely recommend it for anyone that is super active. The "plan" isn't a "diet" but a way to look at food and nutrition for the rest of your life. I just really resonated with it. To start, I've got this DELISH dinner to appease my weekly pizza craving iaintmadatchaaa

ANDDDD --- I cut all my hair off. Again (:

#shorthairdontcare
#teenytinyponyhair (Erynn's word for ponytail. I now talk like I'm 2 years old).


Off to watch Dateline. Don't hate. I know I sound like an old woman.
I have 6 miles tomorrow, and then work work work.
Happy weekend, y'all! 

Rando Post

Hey guys! Hope all is well! The weather has been relatively nice and I've been seeing more and more people hitting the streets for their outdoor workouts!

 I think I'm getting tired. My legs, that is. My pace is slowing some days and I'm having a hard time getting my runs done with my average pace. I don't know if it's because I've been busier and working at a restaurant (so walking around a LOTTTTT) -- I don't know, but it's starting to frustrate me. I took a rest day Friday and then *killed* my run Saturday with an overall pace of 8:55 min/mile for 11 miles. I've got a race this weekend (Fargo) and Memorial Day weekend (Traverse City) -- and I really want to PR with 2:00:00. Fingers crossed! I don't think I'll have any problems, but starting my prep this week by upping my water intake and cutting carbs down until Friday. That means no eggy oats for a few days *cry* --

Love these babies!

Already thinking about my pre-race ritual: banana, coffee, water, immodium AD (for my awful runners IBS). My runners belt, Gu, water/gatorade, gum, and my iphone playlist. Already getting excited about it. Already packing :) I leave Thursdayyyy <3 

So -- I spiced up some rice on Monday -- yum. 

Brown rice with green onions, lime juice, cilantro, cumin/paprika, anddddd japs. Duh.
DELISH. Wish I snapped a pic :(
I always forget to spice my rice up a bit..but I loved it. LOVEDDD it. Trying to really eat healthy (no treat meals) this week. My workouts will start tapering down in preparation for my races, anddd I want to feel tip-top since I'm going to be visiting the boy. :) SOOO happy about that. After 7 weeks of no phone calls or actual time together, I am certainly ready to spend some QT. I give people who successfully do long distance relationships and do them well props. It is not always fun and easy. #truestory 

Fast feet? Yep!

I am LOVING this weather, and have been getting my runs in early. Which I also LOVE LOVE LOVE. If you follow me on Instagram (katdavi), you already know this, because I always post my runs. Get over it if it bothers you, k? Thanks. But pretty soon...


Yep. It will happen :)

Sad note: two of my quiet neighbors have moved out and I'm nervous I'm going to get some crazies. I will NOT be pleased. Happy note: We got new carpet and paint and tile in the hall/entryway of my building, and I reallllllly like it. Love new stuff! Fancyyy. Plus, if my rent is going up I wanna see some improvements.  A while ago I posted and ranted about our god-awful gym, and that's under construction so I am anxious to see how it's going to look! Did I mention i'm getting a roomie in July? We will see how that works out, but living on the cheap will be nice. Adjusting to not living alone will be rough but it's just a year :)

whats up grades?! Glad to finally see you! Ended up with a 3.7 for the semester. #poundit! So happy with that. This semester was ROUGH. So happy to have the hardest semester behind me. Ready to start my year of interning at the MSU Counseling Center and making the most of what I know. :) Been toying with the future idea of getting my doctorate...I know. #whatsmyproblem.

*adios! Happy Monday!