COVID-19: Stay Remote, Not Isolated

Climbing mountains
keeps me centered

The world is in complete chaos right now, and my head is spinning from the constant COVID-19 updates in my news and social media feeds. With businesses and schools closing and store shelves clearing out, I know that we will be hunkering down at home, working remotely, in the very near future. 

It's hard to predict what the next few weeks will bring. While I'm taking necessary precautions, such as washing my hands more frequently, limiting social activities, and shopping online to support local and independent businesses, I'm also sticking to my daily routines as much as possible. This includes adhering to my hiking and running schedules. 

Finding balance and peace
on mountaintops

April begins our rigorous mountain running training—ski slopes and jagged, rocky inclines galore—so I've increased my hiking activities this month to prepare my body for the increased intensity that mountain running adds. Despite the lingering cold weather, my IllumiNITE Tahoe performance jacket, cold weather hood, and Satellite running tights (pictured) have kept me warm. The sun has been shining and the skies have been blue. Spring teases the air, and it's bringing me so much joy. 

Being amidst the trees and rocks helps me feel centered to clear my head and regroup. The breathtaking views at the tops of these mountains reminds me to stay positive, even when it feels society is falling apart, and to remember that beauty exists in this world.

Staying warm, despite
this cold New England weather 

I truly urge you: get outside and enjoy the walking trails, forests, and mountains near you. Escape the news feeds and anxiety-ridden posts. Take the time to center yourself and be present with the here and now. If you need activewear that keeps you warm and dry, I highly recommend supporting independent retailer IllumiNITE. Use my discount code Sera15 for 15% off your entire order. And remember, stay safe! 

What are YOU doing to find balance amidst the chaos? I'd love to hear your ideas. Leave a comment below.

Unstuffed: Digesting 2019

Goodbye 2019! New Year's Eve 2019

2019 was a very full year. Full of promise. Full of recovery. Full of hard work. Full of loss and sorrow. Full of love and joy. It took me all of December to fully process all I had gone through, to fully digest the year. Reset myself for a new year—a new decade.

So I took a hiatus from the virtual social media world to live in the here and now, spend time with my most cherished people, truly reflect on the roller coaster of twelve months, and prepare myself for some major changes. Looking back, I am amazed. Despite numerous setbacks and losses, I've achieved a lot.

RUNNING

I am still in shock at the steady progression of my running. In just one year, I ran two ultramarathons and two marathons in three different countries (USA, Scotland, Greece)! Whoa! Never in a million years would past Sera have believed that she would be an international runner.

Running Seth's Fat Ass 50k in December
Congrats on your 50k, Rich!
IllumiNITE Cold Weather Hood & Tahoe Performance Jacket

 I've run close to 1,000 miles for the year. I could have hit that 1,000-mile milestone, but in December I decided to cut back. Running two marathons two weeks apart in two different countries kind of did me in. So even though I signed up for Seth's Fat Ass 50k—a race where you run 10 loops of 3.1 miles—I only ran half of it. It was bitter cold, and even though my IllumiNITE clothing plus a bathrobe kept me toasty, I was so over winter running. Plus, there were sheets of ice over a large portion of the 3-mile loop, and I just didn't didn't have it in me to teeter across it for all ten loops. At mile 6, my hip was on fire and I was ready to quit. But I never give up just because something gets tough. So I made a deal with myself. I had to run at least half the course—25k. That felt like a reasonable distance to finish out my year of running. I completed 16 miles. I'm happy with that.

Sometimes taking a step back is the right thing to do. I found out a week later, my sciatic nerve was inflamed—hence the fire in my hip. I'm proud of myself for showing up, despite the 10 degree starting temperature, for pushing myself through it, and for listening to my body. So, ALMOST 1,000 miles for the year is fine by me, especially since I got to see miles and miles of Scotland and Greece by foot. Wow, what a year for running!

WRITING

Avenue A Books, the imprint I managed, launched in the Spring with three picture books and one middle grade graphic novel. All in all, I worked on 12 projects before my colleagues and I were let go. I feel blessed to have worked with so many talented children's authors and illustrators. And I learned so much in my role as acquiring editor! I am ever so grateful to the kidlit world for teaching me everything about children's publishing along the way. I'm so proud of all the books I worked on, and I'm beyond proud that the middle grade novel I fought for—the very first project I acquired—was nominated for a Cybils Award. If you haven't read Alexis Vs. Summer Vacation by Sarah Jamila Stevenson and Veronica Agarwal, go read it now!

Love my handmade, black sheep wool
writing gloves from Tarbert, Scotland

It was the best career I ever had—so far. I'm still mourning this loss, but being unemployed gave me the freedom to find my own creativity again. As much as I loved, loved, loved working with authors and illustrators on their projects, I didn't realize how much it zapped my own creativity. I got swept up in the glamour of being on the other side of publishing—the side that makes dreams come true—that I forgot my own dreams.

I'm grateful for the four-month unemployment stint that allowed me to reconnect with my writing. I'm even grateful for the two weeks I holed myself up in my apartment, staring at the walls, racking my brain, trying not to rip out my hair, as I delved back into the fictionalization of my memoir. I may have gotten a few more grey hairs from the process, but this precious time allowed me to fully actualize my characters, plot, and timeline. It's not easy fictionalizing a life lived. It took a while for my brain to wrap itself around an altered timeline with altered people and events. But now these people and their journeys live inside me, and I couldn't be more excited to get them onto the page to share with the world.

See, I've been trying to fictionalize my memoir for two years now, but nothing I tried gave me that epiphany moment where everything clicks until now. I'm a firm believer that with loss brings opportunity, so I cherished that beautiful, temporary break from work. And although it was often tough to keep my faith that all would work out career wise, I treasured the abundance of creativity that flooded through me. I found my Muse again, and I'm so happy she's back. I've missed her so much, and we've been nonstop talking since. Thank you, Universe! Sera is back! 

ILLUMINITE

Night run with my girls!
IllumiNITE Tahoe Performance Jacket
& Cold Weather Hood

A very exciting happening in 2019 was my partnership with IllumiNITE, a Massachusetts-based, family-owned apparel company. This partnership allows me to combine two of my greatest loves: running and writing! And now I can do both in style! I've had way too much fun trying out their different designs! I feel so much safer running in the woods and on the road at night knowing that I am lit up as brightly as a neon sign. I have so much fun talking with other runners (and hikers and walkers) about IllumiNITE's apparel. And if we're being totally honest, I love being so fashionable at races without losing comfort or performance! Thank you, IllumiNITE, for believing in me, and for all your support in my running efforts! I'm so excited to see what's to come for 2020!

LOVE

We found these two hearts on the same
hiking path in Santorini

They say, whoever "They" is, that you find love when you least expect it. I've always rolled my eyes at that statement. It feels like an excuse you tell people for why love is unattainable. But I now see this phrase in a different light. I've been slowly hoping for love, working on myself—what I want, what I don't want, what my own issues around love are, and how to change negative patterns—but I never expected to actually find a healthy, loving relationship. I thought it just wasn't out there, not for me. I thought I had to accept that I would always be single—or settle for something less than.

But then I found love, or perhaps it found me, or perhaps it was just waiting until I was ready and he was ready—truly ready—for love. And I realized least expect it doesn't mean going about my business and bam! Love hits me out of the blue. Rather, I just didn't expect it to happen. I didn't even realize love had happened, not at first, until I went to visit my friend Mary in California. I told her I had met someone, and after talking for a while, she gasped. "Sera, are you in love?" I was so caught off guard by her question. We were sitting on the beach, and I stared out at the ocean waves for a few minutes pondering. "Yes," I said. "Oh my god. Yes, I am in love." I hadn't said such words in two decades. But I knew it to be true.

One of my all-time favorite books/movies is Perks of Being A Wallflower (Stephen Chbosky). The line that kills me every time: "We accept the love we think we deserve." It wasn't until I I searched deep down inside to figure out what love meant to me, what type of love I wanted, and to convince myself I was worthy of such love that I found true love. It's a love I never experienced with anyone. It's a love I've been searching for my entire life and never quite knew it because I didn't know it actually existed. Hence, I least expected it—especially now that I am in my 40s. But here love is, FINALLY. I feel so blessed. 

A New Focus

A symbol of our love

All of these changes in 2019, both good and bad, have helped me shift my perspective on what is
important to me. The career path I was on, the romantic path I was on, the go-go-go-too-busy-to-think path I was on took me away from the life I always dreamed of. It took a FULL STOP to help me reset my priorities, remember the life goals I've always wanted but somehow forgot about. I feel blessed to be starting off this new decade with a new career that enhances my creativity, a supportive life partner by my side, and a closer bond with my family. It might take some time to adjust to this new focus in life. But I'm ready for it.

Sometimes our dreams get sidetracked by shiny distractions along the way. Every now and then, the Universe tarnishes these shiny things so we can better see what's right in front of us—the path we're meant to travel. Time to take that next step back to the Sera I've somehow lost.


What did you learn in 2019? And what are you hoping to change in 2020? Please share your comments below! Happy New Year!

I HATE Running! The Makings of an Ultra Marathoner

As I gear up for not one, but two marathons just two weeks apart in two different countries, I think back to how it all began...

I first started running because my best friend Loretta stopped being social, and I missed her terribly. 

"If you want to hangout," she said, "you need to run with me. I'm training for my first marathon."

"I hate running," I said. But I joined her the next Saturday morning at a nearby parking lot to give it a try. To my surprise, a bunch of people in real athletic wear were gathered around stretching and doing high knees and butt kicks. I felt so out of place in my beat up walking shoes and old sweats.

When it was time to run, I told Loretta: "We're taking walk breaks as often as I need them." 

Loretta and I at my first half marathon:
Amica Iron Horse Half Marathon 2016
My first "birthday" race.

"Okay," she said. She may have rolled her eyes.

"And you better not leave me," I said.

"I won't," she said.

"And don't expect me to run more than three miles. Ever. I HATE running," I reiterated.

"Okay," she said, this time with a smirk. And she kept her word...mostly.

When I first started running, I ran about 30 seconds and walked two minutes. Loretta did not complain once, even though I was being a terrible sport. So, I came back each Saturday to spend time with my bestie. I noticed how happy and excited the other runners seemed, and that confused me. We're running...for no reason...what's there to be happy about? But their joy became contagious. I decided to try harder to see what all this "happiness" was about. Over time, I was able to run longer and farther before taking a walk break. People noticed and congratulated my tiniest accomplishments. I'd never belonged to any club before. And I had to admit, it was more fun than I expected. Shoutout to Run Your Health!

But then, Loretta did the most despicable thing. She volunteered me for a relay marathon team at the Cape Cod Marathon. Before I could protest, the relay team captain threw her arms around me and exclaimed her excitement. The team couldn’t race without a fifth person. I knew I couldn’t let these people down. I had no choice but to run.

"You were going to the Cape to watch me run my marathon anyway," Loretta said. "You might as well run, too."

Shooting out the gate with all the other runners
Cape Cod Marathon and Relay 2015

Loretta waving to me as we ran
the beginning our first race together
Cape Cod Marathon 2015

My leg of the race was the first three miles, and I got to shoot out the gate with all the other relay runners and marathoners alike. The vibrating energy of the crowd was exhilarating, and for the first time, I felt like I was a part of something greater than life. Those three miles were excruciating. I had only run three miles without stopping once before, but I was determined to do my best, so I ran for my life. When I saw my teammates at the transition point, I felt like a rockstar. They were jumping up and down—cheering for me. FOR ME! And that was it, I was hooked.

Cheesing it with my first marathon medal
Cape Cod Marathon 2016

I bought a real pair of running shoes from a running store that fitted me for the perfect fit. Then:

Marathon Relay, turned into 

5ks, turned into 

10ks, turned into
Half Marathons, turned into 

Marathons, turned into 

Chowdah Challenge (half marathon on Saturday/Full on Sunday), turned into

Ragnar Reach the Beach (2-day, 200-mile relay race), turned into 

Trail and Mountain races, turned into 

Ultramarathons!

And now I’m running in multiple states, in other countries, on multiple continents.

Loretta ran right by my side through my first half marathon AND my first marathon. We ran side by side for Ragnar’s Reach the Beach for some of our legs, and she even ran on a few trails and mountains with me. Life gets busy, and Loretta and I don’t run together as often as we used to. Part of that is because our schedules don't always mesh, our running goals don't always match, and she isn’t too fond of trail running...or ultramarathons. But that’s okay. I still feel her energy and inspiration with me on every run.

Loretta and I celebrating after finishing my first marathon
Cape Cod Marathon 2016

Running has changed my life in ways I could never imagine. It’s given me the chance to see pieces of the world I would never see whizzing by in a car. It’s lessened my anxiety and increased my happiness tenfold. It’s helped me realize that I can overcome other obstacles or hardships in my life. I’ve learned nothing is impossible; some things just take more effort or patience or time or education.

I'm so excited to be running Cape Cod Marathon in just eight days! Especially since it's the race that sparked my love of running! 

Still, ask me on a bad run day, and I’ll tell you: “I HATE running.” But I also LOVE it. And I can’t imagine experiencing life without it ever again.

Is there something you thought you didn't like but learned to love once you gave it a real shot? Leave a comment below!

Lights, Camera, IllumiNITEd!

An IllumiNITEd date, captured by photographer Matt Francis 

Fabric Lots in the Dark

Yesterday was so much fun! Mike and I drove to Fall River for our official photoshoot with IllumiNITE! We got to meet with the IllumiNITE team, tour the factory, and check out the newest

Fabric Lots IllumiNITED

IllumiNITE styles—some of which aren't even out yet! I just wanted to twirl around in the lots of fabric, but I restrained myself; I am a professional after all (hee hee). I did take flash pictures to see what patterns lit up, and that was a fun surprise. It was so cool to see where the magic happens. And it was very clear how proud everyone was of the work they did, and they should be! The designs, the fit, the comfort—I could live in IllumiNITE clothing forever!

IllumiNITE Pop-Up Store for Race Expos!

A runner's dream!

When we walked into the area where the pop up store lives, I felt like Charlie in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I wanted to run up and down the aisles, grabbing this shirt and that jacket, and ooh! These gloves are so cool! I want them all and I want them now! Okay, maybe I felt more like Varuca Salt. But you get the gist. Before I could begin my impromptu shopping spree, the IllumiNITE team announced it was time to go to the photoshoot location!

Right, I was here to work!

Matt Francis and IllumiNITE team
planning a shot

We walked around downtown Fall River, seeking various shots for the different outfits. Good thing running has helped me get over my shyness because wardrobe changes happened in the van-turned-dressing-room. It mostly concealed us, but if you ever see semi-naked photos of me on the Internet....well, you'll know why. haha

Then we were on camera! We walked, we posed, we ran, we had silly conversations, and I even got to jump around and do all the silly poses I love doing at races. For once, "act natural" didn't get me into trouble! What I appreciated most was that the IllumiNITE team asked that I didn't wear makeup. It's refreshing to work for a company that appreciates women's natural faces.

The funniest part of the shoot was when the photographer exclaimed: "What's going on here?"

You see, Mike kept flirting with me to make me laugh while I was doing my solo shots. He made comments like: "Just stare into my eyes" and "Why don't you pretend you're texting me" and other silly comments to help me look more natural on camera.

It's always an adventure with us!

Matt had no idea we were a couple, a "power model couple" as my friend Heather jokingly calls us. I couldn't stop laughing hysterically for a long while. I could only imagine what a creep Mike must have seemed to the photographer who thought we'd just met on location. I truly appreciate Matt speaking up, though, because if we weren't a couple, Mike's comments would have been inappropriate. Thanks for looking out, Matt!


But the biggest surprise of the day? The IllumiNITE team gave me the team shirts they designed for us for the Athens Authentic Marathon! I'm getting so excited! I cannot believe I'll be running the original marathon route in just 36 days! It's a marathoner's dream!

In the Dark
(L to R): Brynne Sawyer,
Sera Rivers, Meg Decubellis

I want to give a big shoutout to the IllumiNITE design team, Meg and Brynne, and photographer Matt Francis for making us feel like stars! It was such a great experience!

Lights! Camera! IllumiNITEd! ... And that's a wrap!

October is such a busy month as I'm gearing up for not one, but two marathons! So be sure to follow my blog for updates!

Stay tuned for:

• Official IllumiNITE photoshoot photos
• Marathon Training Updates
• IllumiNITE Team shirt design reveal for Athens Authentic Marathon

In the meantime, check out:

• IllumiNITE website and use discount code Sera15 for 15%off your entire order
• My Events page to see where I'll be running in the next few months! 

Where are you running next? Will I see you at one of my races? Comment below!

Night Running: Who's Afraid of the Dark?

Daylight savings time might not end until November, but the days are definitely getting shorter. This means more opportunities for night running. Yes!

When I first started running, I never considered running at night. To me, night running could only mean one thing: escape from imminent danger, or death! Obviously.

But fast forward to 2017. My friends and I entered Ragnar's Reach the Beach—a 200-mile relay race in New Hampshire from the White Mountains to Hampton Beach. Running at night was inevitable. And I'll admit. I WAS AFRAID! I must have been in denial that we had to run at night because I didn't properly prepare. Sure, I brought the mandatory gear required for the race. But I didn't try my borrowed headlamp until race night, discovering all too late that it didn't fit well, and the lamp was spotty. And, my vest's small reflective strip barely made me visible. Yikes! Fortunately, we were in in a controlled environment with occasional patrol vehicles and a few spectators cheering us on. My support van was not too far away, and my best friend ran by my side.

You can barely see us! Night running
at Ragnar Reach the Beach

The steady thump-thump-thumping of our shoes against pavement lulled my fear to sleep. Mostly. A small amount of nagging anxiety remained, so I used it to fuel my excitement. I was doing something new! Something I never imagined doing before! I was running on a tree-lined street with no streetlights in the middle of the night! And I wasn't doing it to escape imminent danger! I was doing it for fun! MIND BLOWN!

That first plunge into literal darkness sparked a newfound joy. Here's what I learned about night running:

• The air is cool and crisp
• I experience quietude as the world settles down from its day
• I focus on being present because I'm more alert about my surroundings
• My muscles feel more limber (vs. feeling stiff from sleep during early morning runs)
• I sleep so much better when I run at night
• It spices up the monotony of everyday routines 

These days, I find myself running at night often because I'm always training for some distance race. But here's the thing: I don't even think twice about it anymore, especially because I now own the proper night running gear. I have a new-and-improved bright headlamp so I can see where I'm stepping and a flashing red light that clips onto my clothes. Best of all, my reflective IllumiNITE running clothes illuminate me like a spotlight so drivers and other people on the road can see me running a mile away (okay, maybe "a mile away" is hyperbolic; but maybe not; I've not tested the actual distance, haha). I'm also especially conscious of following safety rules while running at night. Need a refresher? Check out my post CAUTION: RUNNERS ON ROAD for a list of running safety tips.

How I look BEFORE light hits me!

An IllumiNITED runner
SHINES BRIGHT like a spotlight
(rocking Featherlite Jacket in Graphite
and Reflective Shortie in Black)

Run Brightly!

So while I'm sad that the days are getting shorter (and colder), I'm definitely excited for more night running. The running groups I belong to have frequent night runs during the week. And let's face it: It's more fun to run in the dark with friends—especially in the woods.

So I challenge you to give it a try. Find a running group in your area and go for a weeknight run! Many running stores, like Marathon Sports, host run clubs that include weeknight runs. Or you could invite a friend—or two, or five!—to an evening neighborhood jog. Or IllumiNITE your dog and ramp up your pace when you take doggie out at night. Whatever you decide, I bet you'll find your newfound joy in night running.

Need an extra push out the door? It's Friday the 13th, and there's a full moon out tonight. What are you waiting for?

Get out there and howl like you're not afraid of the dark!

Run Brightly, Pack Lightly With IllumiNITE

My Fave travel tote bag, made by my Mom
from cloth I purchased in a marketplace
near Konko Village in Ghana

I've been traveling a lot lately, and it's been hard to keep the days of the week straight, let alone know what time it is in the whatever place I woke up. But my nonstop traveling has finally slowed for a bit, and it's give me a chance to give my weary legs and even wearier luggage a much needed rest.

So I thought I'd take a moment to reflect on all the places I've run this year: California, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island! (I know I'm forgetting a state or two in there!) I've run two mountain races, a bunch of smaller road races (13.1 miles or less), and not one, but two, ultramarathons!

Oh right! In May, I ran Kintyre Way Ultra, a 32-mile ultramarathon from Tayinloan to Tarbert, Scotland! How could I ever forget that?! Don't worry, I didn't really forget. But I did forget to compile the video! So guess what I did today?! Hope you enjoy it! I've embedded it at the end of the post.

Sleepy but cozy, wearing IllumiNITE apparel
on my plane ride to my next destination

As marathon training once again kicks into high gear (we're at half marathon distance this weekend—Woot!), I'm getting excited for some upcoming races. More races also means more travel! But at this point I feel like a pro—maybe not quite George Clooney in Up In the Air pro. But I do alright. And I'm so grateful that IllumiNITE clothing packs light and compact for travel. It's so easy to just roll up (or fold) and store in any type of luggage. Whether I'm lugging a large suitcase, hoisting a small carry-on, or shouldering a small tote bag, IllumiNITE clothing makes traveling lightweight and easy. Check out my IllumiNITE Apparel Revealed for the Kintyre Way Ultra video to see just how compact IllumiNITE apparel can get. What I love about this video is that the packaging reminds me of a clown car....the bright clothing just keeps tumbling out! Additionally, I often wear IllumiNITE capris, tee-shirt, and sometimes a jacket for lengthy travel times. This keeps me so comfortable while sitting for long periods of time and allows for a second (or third) workout outfit on-the-go.

And on-the-go I'll be very soon! I have a few small road races coming up, and I'll post those soon on an event page I'm in the midst of creating. But I'm most excited for my next two marathons! *Drumroll please*

At the end of October, I'll be at the Cape Cod Clam Chowdah Challenge in Falmouth, Massachusetts. I'm just running the marathon on Sunday, but I'll be at the Expo with IllumiNITE on Saturday. Stop on by to say HI! and check out IllumiNITE's latest styles! Are you running the full Challenge (39.3 miles in two days)? I did in 2017, and it was so much fun!

In November, I'll be at Athens Marathon, the Authentic! As a writer, I'm always traveling to my favorite writer's homes and gravesites for inspiration. So naturally, as an official marathoner, I must run the original marathon route from Marathon to Athens! Plus, Greece! *Swoon*

Where are you most excited to run this year? Tell me what you're training for in the comments below!

And as promised, here's the video of me running Kintyre Way Ultra! (Spoiler: there's a little something for you at the end of the video!)

Caution: Runners On Road

Running can be a dangerous sport! I'm not sure people truly understand that we put our lives on the line every time we lace up our running shoes.

I was recently in a race with hundreds of runners when a car sped toward the crowd on a narrow road in a thickly settled neighborhood. Instead of waiting for the crowd to run by, or at the very least slow down, the driver revved his engine, peeled out, and charged at us. Quite a few of us cried out in fear as many runners were forced off the road!

I couldn't help but wonder: What was so urgent that this driver risked inflicting major injury—possibly death—to others on a Saturday morning? Did he even realize the potential harm he was causing? Or was he just annoyed there was a race in his neighborhood?

Runners are not objects or inconveniences; we're people, and we're not out to ruin anyone's day. Our only agenda is to run, and we just want to be safe while running. So I've created a list for non-runners and runners alike to keep everyone safe on the road.

For drivers:

1. Yield and proceed with caution.

When you encounter a runner on the road, please yield and assess the situation before proceeding with caution. Runners aren't always immediately aware that a car is nearby. Slowing down will allow the runner time to become aware that a car is approaching so that they can also proceed with caution, bettering the chances of avoiding an accident. If you drive through a race, follow race signs and volunteer directions, and please take extra caution so we're all safe.

2. Make eye contact.

Just because a runner is coming toward you doesn't mean they see you. Make eye contact when possible so you both know you're aware of the other and can move accordingly. If you don't have time to make eye contact, you're driving too fast. Review tip #1.

3. Do not honk or shout out.

Treat runners like other drivers on the road. Do not honk incessantly, whistle, or catcall out your window. Sudden noises cause panic in runners, and panic can result in erratic movement, which can result in an accident. Also, it's a jerk move. Don't be a jerk.

4. Please be patient.

We runners understand that we're slower than cars and that we might get in the way in some circumstances. We appreciate your patience as we do our best to move out of your way. We just want the same respect as everyone else who shares the road.

The responsibility of safety is not entirely on drivers. We runners must take precautions every time we hit the pavement.

For Runners:

A. Follow the rules.

Whether you're in a race or running solo, follow road rules. For example: run facing traffic, stop at intersections, use crosswalks, obey traffic signals, and use hand signals to signal drivers. When possible, run on pedestrian paths and sidewalks.

B. Pay attention.

It's so easy to zone out when running, but that can lead to injury. To stay alert, play mental games like "how many [animals, car colors, plant/flower types, etc.] can you find while running." If you listen to music, avoid earbuds or noise cancelling headphones. Play music through your phone's speaker (not during a race; that annoys other racers), or buy bone conduction earphones so that you can hear your surroundings.

C. Wear bright, reflective clothing.

Shining bright by sunlight
Women's reflective bling vigor singlet in charcoal

Wait for it...

With all the distractions on the road—other drivers, flashing lights, billboards and scrolling marquees—it's easy for runners to blend into the background. So RUN BRIGHTLY! IllumiNITE athletic apparel comes in a variety of bright colors for all shapes and sizes. And what's better: their reflective ink shines brightly when illuminated by headlights, sunlight, any kind of light, to keep runners visible and safe in all weather conditions. IlumiNITE also sells bright, reflective accessories, such as headbands, bibs, gloves, and hats. And they even have reflective apparel for your pets.

Because you're reading this post, you can receive 15% off your entire IllumiNITE order with my discount code RUNBRIGHTLY. Spread the safety by sharing the code with all your running, and walking, friends!

D. Take extra safety precautions.

Running gear for Kintyre Way Ultra

Anything can happen on a run, so it's good to be prepared for anything. Before heading out on a solo run, tell a friend or family member the route you're running, how many miles, and your estimated return time. Don't forget to text when you're done! Carry extra water, a cell phone, a whistle, a pocket knife, and mace when running solo or in remote areas. A running pack, vest, or bag will hold these supplies. If you don't want to add extra bulk, IllumiNITE offers clothing styles with pockets. I was able to comfortably carry my passport in the zipped back pocket of my IllumiNITE dovetail women's short sleeve reflective tee when I ran Kintyre Way Ultra in Scotland. It was such a relief to not worry about having it on hand.

Runners and non-runners alike. Let's help keep the road a little safer. It may save a life. What safety tips do you find helpful? Leave a comment below.

An Ultra Life IllumiNITEd

Wearing IllumiNITE at
2019 Chesterfield Gorge Ultramarathon

If you told my 2015 self that Sera Rivers would be running all over the world, running thirty-plus miles—in the woods!—she'd tell you: "You've got the wrong girl. I HATE running. And I most definitely HATE the woods."

But here she is...uh, I mean, here I am, an ultramarathoner! And I've already completed four ultras in just eight months—on two continents, thank you very much. And now I'm gearing up for my next race: a marathon in Greece. Not just ANY marathon: The official route of the legendary Pheidippides who, in 490 BC, ran from Marathon to Athens to share the news that the Greeks had won the battle against the Persians.

This running thing is clearly not a phase like I first thought it was; it's my life. And with so many people asking about all my adventures, it's about time I share them!—Especially now because I've got exciting news to tell.

I am now a running ambassador for IllumiNITE—a family-owned, Massachusetts-based apparel company (my home state! Woot!) that creates sportswear and accessories with an all-in-one reflective ink that increases visibility and safety—whether you're running, cycling, rollerblading, or even walking your pet at night.

I'll admit, I was a bit scared to try out new clothing for the first time at an ultramarathon (33 miles) in the wilderness of a foreign country. Every runner knows you don't try new things at a race. But I loved IllumiNITE's styles, and I wanted to look great in Scotland, especially since I was one of just a handful of Americans running the Kintyre Way Ultra. And a few people I knew who wore IllumiNITE swore by their clothing, so I gave it a shot.

Wearing Featherlite Reflective
Hooded Nylon Packable Jacket

What I thought would take about 7 hours to finish, took 8 hours, 54 minutes, and 34 seconds (that's another story!), but man, I am so relieved I had IllumiNITE gear. It was cold first thing, so the featherlite jacket kept me warm but was easily stowed away in my hydration vest as soon as the weather warmed up. I couldn't even tell I was carrying it (it really is so lightweight!). My body stayed cool and dry the whole 9 hours, despite the sun beating down on me (surprising for Scotland in May, I know), and the reversible headband kept the sweat out of my eyes! A definite added bonus! Where has IllumiNITE been all my running life?! I'm already an addict.

But don't take my word for it. Try IllumiNITE for yourself. Follow my blog for an upcoming discount code, giveaways, and more! You'll learn about all the places I've been so far, and discover all the places I plan to go. I'll also share training and nutrition tips I've learned along the way, as well as my journey to finding balance between running and writing and living the ultra life!

And I also want to hear from you! While I'm technically on social media, I've not REALLY seeing what's happening with you all on social media! I've been so busy!  Please comment below with something you're excited about—doesn't have to be running related!

Let's start a Run Brightly Tribe!