Marathon Music Motivation

Last weekend, Mike and I completed our longest training run—a whopping 20 miles! No matter how much I train, I'm always anxious about the 20-miler run because it truly informs how I'll do on marathon day. This year, especially, had me very nervous. With the pandemic and working remotely, we haven't been nearly as mobile as we used to, and with our hectic work schedules, we haven't been hitting every training run. And let's not forget my various injuries that have slowed down my training. No wonder I barely slept the night before our 20-miler! To make matters worse, I was nauseous at the start. 

I told myself: "Sera, you just need to get the miles in. Fast, slow, walking, crawling...20 miles is 20 miles!" 

Acting silly at mile 15! Love that my 
IllumiNITE Ponyband Headband helps secure my AirPod!

I also told myself I just had to get to the halfway mark because once I hit ten miles, I had no option but to get back to my car. This is why I LOVE running long miles on a bike path. It's mindless: out and back with minimal road crossings. Isn't that boring? You ask. Sure, it can be. Running on a straight path with minimal scenery change for hours on end can be mind-numbing. But I look at that as a positive. I don't have to worry about traffic lights or who gets the right of way or getting hit by a car or running around people milling about on the street. Though, I do have to follow the rules of the bike path. But those are simple. Stay in your lane, announce when you're passing others (always on the left!), and look before passing so you don't get run over by a bicyclist!

Running on the bike path helps me concentrate on my performance and fatigue level as well as zone out for long stretches of time. And to keep me motivated, I listen to music! It really helps me stay on track and keep my pace and cadence high. To make sure that I get continuous music for hours on end, I carry my AirPods charging case with me and listen to just one AirPod bud at a time—this also helps me hear my surroundings to keep me safe!

Mike wore my AirPods ONCE,
now they're named after him

My taste in music is really eclectic. I listen to songs from many different time periods and genres, individual singers and bands. 

Some of my favorite musicians to listen to while running are:

Aretha Franklin

R.E.M.

Beyoncé

Thirty Seconds to Mars

Elvis Crespo

Janet Jackson

Linkin Park (RIP Chester Bennington!)

Lenny Kravitz

Kenny Loggins (The majority of the Footloose movie soundtrack, actually!). 

But one thing all the songs I listen to have in common: they are all fast-paced, pump-me-up songs! My absolute favorites are the songs about running and empowerment! For example:

Mike is so fast! I don't know if I'll ever catch up to him!

"Run for Cover" by the Killers

"Run Loves Out" by One Republic

"Run the World (Girls) Beyoncé

"Point of No Return" by Nu Shooz

"Dog Days Are Over" Florence + the Machine 

"I'm Gonna Be (Walk 500 Miles) by the Proclaimers

"Run" Foo Fighters

"I Wanna Go" by Britney Spears

"Highway Unicorn" by Lady Gaga

"Formation" by Beyoncé

"Woman" by Ke$ha

"Whatever It Takes" Imagine Dragons

"Mr. Rager" by Kid Cudi

"Freedom" by George Michael

"Survivor" by Destiny's Child

"Work B**ch" by Britney Spears

"Too Legit to Quit" by MC Hammer

Mike got in twenty-two miles! So proud of him!

These songs just truly get me moving! Before I knew it, Mike and I had completed our 20 miles, and we made good time too. Well, I ran 20 miles. Mike ran 22 miles. He's so much faster than me; he often runs up ahead and then walks back to where I am just to stay with me. I keep telling him he doesn't need to do that, but he takes "training together" seriously. I'm so relieved that we made it. I can now rest easy a bit—mentally, that is! Gotta keep the body moving!

Now that the marathon is coming up in JUST 13 DAYS (Ahhhh!) I really want to switch up some of my music to keep me super motivated. I'll be running for about five hours, give or take! 

I could really use your suggestions. What are your absolute favorite songs that pump you up for hard workouts and/or long runs? Please leave a comment below!

Sera is wearing IllumiNITE's PonybandHeadband, Short-Sleeve Savannah Shirt in Flo Lime, and Jammer Mid-length Reflective Running Short in Magma.

Mike is wearing IllumiNITE's Reflective Unisex Multi-Wrap in Graphite and Reflective Endeavor Long Running Short in Black/White.

You can get these great looking more AND 15% your order with discount code Sera15 at IllumiNITE.com!

Marathon Color Themes: Orange You Glad?

IllumiNITE Jammer Mid-length Short

Spring has passed by in a blur, and time still feels like a concept. I honestly don't know how April turned into the end of June, and so many things seem up in the air. But one thing is for certain: we're in the thick of marathon training! With just 65 days until our New England Green River Marathon, I'm suddenly feeling ill-prepared. Mike on the other hand, is running circles around me—he's a speed demon, and I swear he's a robot sent to me from the tech gurus of Silicon Valley as an experiment of love between humans and AIs. But that's a story for another time.

I've had a few setbacks this year—a rotator cuff injury and stiff muscles that are still angry at me for not running any marathons last year. But I'm practicing self-care by stretching every day, using my Roll Recovery R8 every day (ouch!), and making sure that I push through the muscle aches but stopping at the pain. One of the best pieces of advice I received from my physical therapist is if it's sore keep going but if you experience sharp, sudden, jolting pain, stop. We should have been up to 15 miles as of last Sunday, but I've only managed 11 miles for my longest run. I know my body will slowly catch up. I just need to keep at it, slow and steady, and remind my body that it really does love running long distances. 

To help me stay injury-free, I bought myself a new pair of running sneakers. I buy a new pair every year because the life of a running sneaker is about 400 miles. Since I also own a pair of trail running sneakers, my road shoes usually last the full year, even when training for a marathon because I split the mileage between the two pairs. My trusty Garmin keeps track of mileage for me. But I digress. I always go with the same brand—Mizuno Wave Inspire. I usually choose the men's style because the toe box is slightly wider than the women's, and I really like the bright vibrant colors. 

This time, as I was scrolling through the different options on the Mizuno site, I told Mike I didn't know which color I liked best. He said, "Just pick the one that's cheapest." I looked at him in horror. He ignored my dramatics and pointed at my computer screen. "Look, the blue one is on sale."

"I can't buy the blue ones!" I threw my hands up! "I wore the blue ones the year Indigo turned 21!" Mike blinked at me in pure confusion.

That's when it hit me: The color of the sneakers I've chosen each year always have some significance. It all started when I purchased: Purple Mizunos the year Prince died. Prince shared a birthday with me, and it felt right to honor him while I ran, especially since music is a major part of my running experience. Then:

IllumiNITE
Vigor Singlet
Shortie

 Blue—to honor my son's 21st birthday

Silver with blue—I wasn't feeling my best, and I needed to be reminded that I could shine nonetheless. That color theme came from the song "For My Brother" by Blue October. I highly recommend listening. All the feels...

The lyric that sticks with me to this day is "Believe you can shine when you're silver, and I promise you gold." Justin Furstenfeld is such an inspirational poet.

IllumiNITE Vigor Singlet
Shortie

Grey (aqua tint) with aqua and pink stripes inside—They reminded me of the Mediterranean Sea and were the perfect motivation for our marathon in Greece.

IllumiNITE
Satellite Tight

Black with gold—At the beginning of 2020, I felt at the top of my game. That gold feeling I had been praying for, finally settled in! Litle did I know the pandemic was about to hit...that "gold" reminded me that even when I felt more silver than gold, brighter days would come back again.

And before I knew it 2021 was upon us. Here I was coming out of a pandemic year, not having run one single marathon in over a year and a half. I needed a new pair of sneakers. Again, I wondered: What color signifies this year? It felt like the most important running decision of my life. This past year has been so challenging, so difficult, but we had survived it. 

And then I saw them:

IllumiNITE
Jammer Mid-length Short

Salmon buff black—The brightest, happiest color I've seen in a long while. Mike's eyes nearly popped out of his head. "Well, we can't miss seeing you in those!" 

"They match my favorite shorts! And my running vest! They're perfect!" I exclaimed, and I didn't care that they cost $10 more than the blue ones. Because they go with this year's marathon training theme: 

ORANGE YOU GLAD?

IllumiNITE Reflective Tee and Jammer Mid-length Short

Orange you glad millions of people are getting vaccinated?

Orange you glad the pandemic is winding down?

Orange you glad the world is opening back up?

Orange you glad we can start traveling again?

Orange you glad we made it through this difficult year?

Orange you glad we can hug our family members again?

Orange you glad we can visit with friends again?

Orange you glad marathons are happening again?

Orange you glad we're running partners?

Orange you glad, Orange You Glad? ORANGE YOU GLAD?!

I am!

And now, my marathon accessories are complete! I can run as happy as a summer day's sunrise and sunset and shine bright day and night!

What's your color theme? Are you a bright and bold apparel runner? Or a dark and stealthy runner? Leave your comment (or picture!) below.

IllumiNITE Colorado Waterproof Jacket

IllumiNITE has something for everyone—for the most flashiest or most incognito running personalities, they've got you covered literally. And no matter what color theme you prefer, IllumiNITE keeps you shining bright when it matters most—at night, early morning, and in cloudy, rainy weather. 

Check out their latest styles at IllumiNITE.com, and use my discount code RunBrightly15 for 15% off your order.

Culture Shocked: Pacing Myself Back Into the World

It's been 400 days?!

Sera in IllumiNITE Vigor Singlet;
Synergy Headband

Today is Earth Day! Today is also Covid-19 Quarantine Day number 400! That's 400 days since the world shut down due to the pandemic. 400 days with no races, music concerts, writing conferences, indoor dining or shopping, parties, or family gatherings. 400 days of social isolation. 

Yet, somehow, the idea that the world is rapidly opening up feels like The Earth is spinning way too fast. Wait, what do you mean the marathon we signed up for in 2019 is now happening at the end of August?! Wait, what do you mean we qualify for the vaccine? We can actually get it NOW? Wait! What do you mean we'll start traveling on trains and airplanes again?

Close-up of our wall map; can't wait
to add more pins to it!

Don't get me wrong. I am thrilled that millions of people are getting vaccinated every day. And I am thrilled that the world is opening up again. 

So thrilled, in fact, we booked a trip for this fall to hike the Grand Canyon—Rim to Rim!—and then explore Las Vegas. I have never been to Arizona or Nevada before, and I am so excited to be doing both in one trip. I cannot wait to see Red Rock Canyon as well, and if it 's safe to do so, I'd love to see a live show again—Circe du Soleil! 

Mike and I both love to travel so much; it's been odd to be stationary in one space for so long. To pass the time, we've been dreaming about all the places we want to visit all over the world. We even bought ourselves a GIANT wall map with pins to track every place we visit.

Mike took this photo of me during the 
Athens Authentic Marathon in Greece.
Wearing IllumiNITE Vigor Singlet; Shortie

But after being in complete isolation for more than a year, I suddenly feel ill-prepared. I am culture shocked! It is a strange feeling to have such conflicting emotions. I am trying my best to focus on the positive, but the anxiety lingers.

I must remind myself that just like marathon training, I must pace myself. I would never step outside my door and run 26.2 miles on a whim without training first or carrying water and fuel. Likewise, I don't need to reenter the world all at once. I can do it gradually.  Perhaps I'll start with having a couple people over in my backyard, still socially-distanced, now that the weather is getting warmer. Perhaps I'll eventually sit outside at a restaurant. Perhaps I'll sign up for another race. 

It is exciting to venture out into the world aagain!
Sera in IllumiNITE Colorado Waterproof Rain Jacket;
3-in-1 Mitten; Mike in  Skull Cap; Ascent Parka

Or not. I must also remind myself that I do not have to drastically change the lifestyle I've adopted when this pandemic shut everything down. I can take it one day at a time; one decision at a time; and before I know it, I will cross that finish line into this new world, which will feel similar yet never the same as it was—and perhaps that's a good thing. 

Happy Earth Day!  Let's shine bright as we re-enter the world! As a special treat, IllumiNITE is offering 15% off your order on April 22. Just use code Earth21 to get any of the gear shown in this post— and so much more! You can also use my discount code Sera15 for 15% off your IllumiNITE order any time! 

Masking up before heading out;
Sera in IllumiNITE Ambition Hoodie
(on sale now!)

Do you have anxiety about the world opening back up? 

Are you excited?

What is the first thing you want to do? 

Share a comment below. I'd love to hear your thoughts. 

Spring MarathonTraining: In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb

Foggy, rainy morning for our run; but we stayed bright 
and dry in IllumiNITE's Colorado Jacket and Squall Jacket

Marathon Training has commenced, and it has been rough, rough, rough. I'm at that beginning all over again where running just two miles feels like a death sentence. I'm at the stage where I wonder how on earth did I manage to run for three, four, five hours on end and then jump into a social activity afterwards without any issues. But that's the beauty of running. Am I rusty from taking off most of the winter because my couch was too cozy to leave? Yes! But....will my body remember that it can handle a marathon? Also, Yes! Eventually.

I equate my spring marathon training to the children's analogy for the month of March: It comes in like a lion—with everything muscle in my body roaring like a lion and my lungs heaving. But this rough start also means that it will go out like a lamb—with every muscle bounding through the air without a care in the world. If it wasn't difficult to get back into it, running wouldn't feel so rewarding when I hit my goals.

I love our coordinating pullovers: Inspire and Early Riser;
even their names fit our personalities! And, our Headband
and Multi-Wrap keep the wind out of our ears!

It doesn't help that I have a rotator cuff injury, or that my back has been spasming, and my knee decided to shift out of place for a week. Getting old is no fun at all. Wait! I'm not getting old! I'm just out of practice. Okay, phew! I've been consistently doing my stretches and exercises to heal my shoulder and strengthen my back, as I mentioned in my last blog post. And since Mike and I really are out of practice, I started us off slowly with Hal Higdon's 15k Novice Training plan because it really starts with the basics: just two miles to start, gradually adding miles each week until we hit our 15k—that's 9.32 miles! Miraculously, this training transitions perfectly into Hal Higdon's Novice Marathon Training plan (with a minor adjustment) to meet our marathon goal at the end of August. New England Green River Marathon—here we come! I'm surprised Mike is willing to run another marathon with me after running his first and only marathon—The Athens Authentic Marathon, with a whopping 20 miles of hills! Due to the pandemic, Green River was postponed from last year to this year. I hope that Mike falls in love with running marathons this time—Green River has a 1,450 feet elevation drop—it's the least I could do to redeem myself. Athens was so difficult (but rewarding)!

Repping our love for mountains with
IllumiNITE's Love Tee and Vision Pullover

Once we're back in shape, we'll be double-downing on our long runs, adding in the half-mileage the day before or after (for example, if we run 18 miles on Saturday, we run or hike 9 miles on Sunday) to prepare us for Ghost Train Ultramarathon in the fall. I really want to do 45 miles before my 45th birthday, over the course of two days. Mike is a trooper and agreed to run 30 of those miles with me. It's all very exciting...in theory. Right now, I'm really wishing this lion would get off my back so I can feel as free as that cute little lamb frolicking in the fields.

I'm obsessed with my playlist that has only songs related
to jets and flying...and with my phone secured in
my shorts side pocket...it really keeps me moving!

How do I keep myself motivated when running feels so laborious? I've created some pump-me-up Spotify playlists to listen to as I run, and I take advantage of all my fun Illuminite* clothing and accessories that are perfect for New England's unpredictable spring weather. Every running day, I check the weather. Do I need my lightweight, waterproof rain jacket? My short sleeve shirt with my separate sleeves? My jammer shorts with the deep side pocket for my phone? Or my performance fleece and Velocity Gloves to keep me warm? Anything goes in these early spring months. But that just adds to the fun of it all.

So, yes. It's normal for legs to feel like lead with every step, and lungs to feel like deflated balloons, and the throat to feel on fire from breathing heavy. It's normal for two miles to feel like 100 miles and for clothes to not quite fit the same and for the brain to feel all foggy. Soon, the groove will come back and 15 miles will fly by in a blink, and it will be summer and warm and all will be right in the world again. 

IllumiNITE's Velocity Mittens are lightweight and warm,
and their bright color makes them so fun to wear!

The most important thing to remember: just like March, spring marathon training may feel like the beast of the lion, but soon you WILL find that peaceful bliss of the lamb.

What races are you signed up for? 

What are your tricks and tips to get you moving again now that it's spring? 

I'd love to hear your thoughts. Leave a comment below!

*Get 15% off your order at IllumiNITE.com with my discount code RunBrightly15.

Gearing Up for Colder Months in Quarantine

Trying out hiking poles for the first time
Wearing IllumiNITE Ambition Hoodie, 
Ponyband Headband & Velocity Mittens

Brrr. It's getting cold out there! Where has summer gone? It's getting harder to wake up early now that it's darker and colder in the mornings. But I can't deny how good it feels to breathe in the brisk air and stare at the colorful trees against the bright blue backdrop of the sky once I motivate myself to get up and get moving. Staying active during the colder months is like going to the gym after the shininess of New Year's resolutions wears off. It takes a lot to get yourself out there, but once you do, you wonder why you hesitated in the first place. 

Since we're still in a pandemic, Mike and I talked about the importance of not staying cooped up inside all winter. In normal years, I always sign up for a few fall and winter races to keep me motivated to run, including trail and mountain races (like the Ghost Train Ultramarathon, or the "Movember on Mt. Tom Fun Run" to raise awareness for men's health). But all races have been discontinued. Likewise, we won't be able to socialize indoors at theaters or restaurants or gatherings with friends. What do we do? 

We decided to stick with what we do best: hiking and running. We also agreed to try snowshoeing come winter to spice things up. We went through our colder weather inventory to see what we already own. Then we went on a five-and-a-half hour hike on Mount Race, my favorite mountain in the Berkshires, to figure out what we still need to stay dry, warm, and safe outside during the fall and winter months.

Crossing Race Brook Falls; Velocity Mittens 
help me get a better grip my trekking poles 

While hiking, we paid attention to the changing landscape. Fallen leaves and muddy terrain after the previous night's rainfall made the trek slipperier than usual. Fortunately, Mike's aunt lent us her trekking poles to see how we liked them. Why have I never used trekking pokes before? Wow! They truly gave me "extra legs" as I maneuvered up and down muddy terrain, crossed rivers, and navigated boulders. I have terrible balance, so I will definitely be getting myself a pair of these. Once winter sets in, I'll be adding MICROspikes so I don't slip when walking and climbing on sheets of ice. 

As for clothing, here is what we decided works best for the fall and winter months:  

Layering is Key

I'm all layered up from head to toe;
can you see my Velocity Mitten
making a cameo?

New England weather is finicky. The temperature can go from 48°F to 72° to 30° all in one day. It can be sunny, then cloudy, then windy with hail, then calm and balmy. Yes, we often have the four seasons all in one day. Weather definitely keeps things exiting. But no matter where you live, it's important to be prepared for the elements, especially on mountains. Mountains don't care if it's January or July; they have their own climate.

Packable Jacket is lightweight,
and keeps me warm and dry
in cold, wet weather

One thing I love about IllumiNITE clothing is that they're easily packable and lightweight. Even their warmer clothing doesn't feel bulky. Therefore, I love to layer a shortsleeve like their Mockingbird or Savannah Shirt underneath a warmer shell like the Ambition Hoodie or Packable Jacket for the fall months. 

Once that bitter winter weather sets in, I exchange my Packable Jacket for the Tahoe Performance Softshell Fleece. It protects me against the elements while still allowing me to move freely, whether I'm running on the road or climbing up the boulders of a mountain. 

Sera in Powerstretch Pant
(bootcut pairs well with hiking boots)
Mike in Mercury Running Tights

The women's Satellite Running Tights and men's Mercury Running Tights keep us dry and warm during the early autumn months. I love how IllumiNITE tights can be layered beneath hiking pants, running shorts, or sweatpants for added warmth and protection. They also prevent chafing and wick away moisture. I also recommend wearing wicking underwear made specifically for running or hiking. It makes a world of difference in comfort level. 

There's really nothing worse than sweating through your layered clothing only to become chilled to the bone. That's the type of bitter cold that sits inside you for hours. So, when the weather turns damp and cold, the Windbrite Pant, which is windproof, prevents windchill from settling in.

Accessories

I don't know what I would do if I didn't have my go-to IllumiNITE accessories. They all make my life so much easier because they prepare me for anything. 

A super fun accessory that is also practical is my pair of IllumiNITE Sleeves. When it's a tad chilly, but I know I'll heat up as I run, I wear a shortsleeved tee with my detachable sleeves. They easily stow away in a pocket if I get too hot, but add just the right amount of warmth and brightness on chilly and/or damp days.

And I'm totally obsessed with accessories for my head! My Multi-Wrap has multi-purposes. I can use it as a hat, double it up to create a face mask for when we're passing people on the road or trail, or use it as a buff to keep sweat out of my eyes and bugs out of my ears (especially during pesky spring and fall months when the insects are especially buggy!). 

Mike wears his Multi-Wrap
like a

 headband;
I cover my whole head

When I don't want full coverage, I really love the thicker IllumiNITE headbands because they still keep sweat out of my eyes and bugs out of my ears. Some even come equipped for ponytails (the Ambition Hoodie is also perfect for ponytails!) 

Shining bright on
our morning walks—Synergy!

For our early morning walks, I switch out the elaborate head coverings for my Synergy Hat. I can keep my hair down while wearing it, and it keeps my head warm—and visible!—while we walk through our neighborhood. 

But as the months get colder, I exchange these head coverings for the Cold Weather Unisex Hood. It's so versatile! You can rearrange it to either cover your head, mouth and nose, and neck; Or, your head and neck; Or, just your neck, depending on how hot or cold you get. It's especially easy to pull down the face covering for a quick snack break without any complications.

IllumiNITE's Velocity Mittens keep my hands dry and warm while also allowing me to use my phone—gotta capture our amazing adventures on camera. Though, come winter months, I will need warmer gloves such as their Second Skin Gloves or Three-In-One Mitten.

Ready for outdoor activities
this fall and winter!

I spoke with our friends at IllumiNITE to see what they recommended for warmer gear for the colder months, and they gathered some of their best products for us. Our shipment just came in, and I can't wait to see what we got! Stay tuned for more. In the meantime, check out IllumiNITE for all your reflective athletic wear needs, and use my discount code Sera15 for 15% off your order!

I'd love to hear your must-have gear for fall and winter! Please share in a comment below!

Virtual Races: A Reminder I Didn't Know I Needed

Cape Cod Marathon Start Line
Oct. 2019

Every year, I plan out my races to keep myself motivated and moving. I sign up for my fave (fun!) races, such as The Westfield Flat Fast 5k and the Hot Chocolate Run 5k for Safe Passage, and I choose one or two favorite long distance races, such as the Cape Cod Marathon or Ghost Train Ultra Marathon, and then I sprinkle in a few races I've not tried before to spice things up. Destination races are my favorite, so I try to incorporate those when possible.

But this year, all races were cancelled due to the pandemic. I had signed up for the Green River Marathon, a one-way marathon from Vermont to Greenfield with a 1,450 foot overall drop in elevation (to make up for making Mike run his first marathon ever in Greece where the elevation gain was 1,150 feet!). And I had also signed up for the Ghost Train Ultra Marathon again, where I planned on running 45 miles in two days (30 Saturday; 15 Sunday). I told Mike that we should just train anyway, do the miles on our own, but it's been a real struggle getting high mileage in. 

Yes, we've been active every day, especially since we created our accountability schedule. But our long runs have plateaued at about ten miles...wah, wah, wah! And here it is October already, and I haven't run one marathon yet. I'm usually on marathon number two (or even three!) for the year by now. I feel the negative difference in my body and my mood, and I don't like it!

So the other week, I told Mike that we had to run a half marathon. No matter how long it took, we were

Unofficial Half-Marathon Complete
IllumiNITE MultiWrap, Early Riser, 
Ambition Hoodie, and Velocity Mitten

not stopping until we hit 13.1 miles. I was slow, real slow, but I just kept moving one foot in front of the other, and before I knew it, we were finished! It definitely helped that the sky was blue because it was cold! A mere 41 degrees. Thank god we wore our IllumiNITE pullovers AND gloves to keep us warm. But it gave me a sense of accomplishment. We may not be marathon ready, but we're halfway there.

I had planned on signing up for the Womxn Run the Vote relay race, where proceeds went to Black Voters Matter, but time got away from me. By the time I went to registered, they had hit their 10,000 athletes capacity! Whoa! I had no idea virtual races capped participation. Mike and I still logged about 35 miles that week, and I am still donating money to Black Voters Matter because it's such an important cause! But missing the sign-up bummed me out! I didn't realize how much I missed my running community until I missed out on an amazing race opportunity for a charitable organization.

IllumiNITE
Vision Men's Pullover
Endeavor Shorts

So, to keep our momentum going, Mike signed us up for the Running from 2020 virtual race. The finisher shirt definitely captures how we feel about this year. Then, on October 3, Mike asked me what day it was. Okay, okay, he didn't ask; he told me: Race Day! But I needed my total Mean Girls moment! Don't judge! Anyway, I was not feeling the race whatsoever! But I knew I couldn't let him down, and I also wanted that shirt! So I pushed my grumbling deep down, and we set off. Once Mike passed me, my racing instincts kicked in and I ran harder than I've been running most days. I'm so proud to say that I ran nonstop. I even sped up with each mile. 

10:42...

10: 25...

9:45...

9:06...

I tried my hardest to catch Mike, but he's just too fast for me. He won by four minutes! Yowza he's fast! But it was so much fun, and it made me realize how much I love racing. 

Feeling accomplished after our 5k
IllumiNITE Synergy Headband,
Packable Jacket, Savannah Women's Tee;
Vision Men's Pullover

So, what's next?

I truly believe in races that raise money for charitable organizations, so that's priority for me right now. I may not get my marathon in this year, but I plan on staying active throughout the winter. I'm hoping that the annual Hot Chocolate Run that I run every year goes virtual this year. Proceeds go to Safe Passage, an organization that helps "families achieve safety, build justice and rebuild their lives in the wake of domestic's violence."

What virtual races have you done this year? 

What virtual events are you looking forward to? 

Leave a comment below.

Perhaps we can run one together in the virtual world.

Check out the styles we're wearing and use my discount code Sera15 for 15% off your entire IllumiNITE order.

Covid-19 Quarantine Day 195: Love on Lockdown

Masks on!
Sera in IllumiNITE Ambition Reflective Hoodie 

Today is day 195 of quarantine, and while I still refuse to accept that this is the “new normal,” I can’t dispute the fact that other than my eight-day solo writing retreat, Mike and I have been together 24 hours a day, every day, since the pandemic started.

That’s 27 weeks of social isolation. In other words, six months—half-a-year!—trapped (ahem, blessed) together.

When the pandemic hit and we both transitioned to working from home, the days and nights blurred together (they still do!). Mike and I learned that creating an accountability schedule was key to giving us a routine and keeping us active—it’s worked wonders!

Still, when I watched Mike change the quarantine day on our whiteboard to 190 last Friday, it shocked me. On our morning walk, I presented our current situation. 

Accountability Schedule and
Quarantine Day Tracker

“How are we not sick of each other?" I asked.

Mike, being the methodical, list-making, strategizing side of our relationship, had us review the past six months; then, we made a list of all the things that work for us:

MORNING ROUTINE

Every morning, Mike and I start our day on the couch with our cups of coffee. We compare our workday schedules so we can plan meals/domestic duties/errands accordingly. Once I’ve woken up completely—which often takes at least thirty minutes for caffeine to work its way through my veins—we venture outside.

Since we no longer commute to/from work, our morning walk/run now

Cold 13.1 miles on our morning run
Grateful for warm IllumiNITE Multi-Wraps,
Early Riser, Ambition Hoodie
and Velocity Mittens 

serves as that transition. To keep us motivated, we challenge each other to go faster or father; sometimes, we take detours, and we often take pictures to capture special (and silly) moments.

When we get back, we make breakfast together before. Some mornings, we even have enough time to eat together before work begins—added bonus.

I love our morning routine; it allows us to connect first thing.

FOOD, FOOD, FOOD

Burgers w portabello "buns" and
fresh zucchini and tomatoes

Last year, Mike and I tried Whole30, which taught us a lot about ingredient labels and healthy eating habits. We learned how to cook fun, new recipes that were both nutritional and delicious. So, when everything shut down, eating every meal at home didn’t phase us.

We make our staple go-to meals, but we also like to experiment with spices and cooking methods we’ve never tried before. We cook together as often as we can. It’s a fun way to connect, and it also serves as a transition from “work to home” as we share about our workdays.

WEEKEND ACTIVITIES

In addition to keeping active during the week, we plan our weekends to include hiking and other outdoor adventures. We research which mountains we’d like to hike, which trails to wander, or which

Capital "A" in its natural state

bodies of water we want to visit. Then we plan how many miles/hours we want to explore and what supplies/food to bring. This always gives us something to look forward to during the week. We have so much fun exploring different places, some practically in our backyard!

We started a game to find all the letters of the alphabet in nature. The one rule is the letter cannot have any man-made aspect to it. We’ve found most letters, but we’re still searching for capital “Q” and a few others.

I’ve also discovered that eating a picnic comprised of fruit, mixed nuts, and the occasional Lara bar on top of a mountain overlooking a vast valley below is far more romantic than eating at a fancy restaurant. Who knew?

AUDIOBOOKS

Mike and I both love to read, and we often snuggle on the couch reading our own books, each in our

Listening to Wild via AirPods on a morning walk
Sera in IllumiNITE Mockingbird Shirt (final sale)
Mike in IllumiNITE Sentinel Shirt

own world. We always share about what we read and discuss the various topics we learn about. Recently, we’ve begun listening to audiobooks together. We just finished Wild by Cheryl Strayed; it spawned so much conversation about solo-hiking and thru-hikers and about our own traveling goals. When we finished the book, we watched the movie and then compared the two.

Now, we’re listening to The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion. We’re only an hour in, but it’s brought us quite a chuckle…especially as we compare our own relationship (and personal) habits to the main character’s.

ALONE TIME

When you’re together all day, every day, what is there to talk about?

Surprisingly, Mike and I never run out of topics. In analyzing our conversations, we realize we always have things to discuss because we spend a good amount of time doing our own thing. During the workweek, we

Mike drops off grapes to
my office, with a side of love

work in different parts of the house and do not physically see each other all day—except for the occasional snack or lunch drop-off to each other’s office (Thanks, Mike!).

We also make sure to schedule alone time outside of work hours as well. Whether I’m in my office

Snuck a pic of Mike enjoying
Joyful on a sunny day

writing (like now) while Mike’s outside gardening, or one of us visits with a friend/family member on the phone (or Zoom!), or we read different books, we acknowledge the importance alone time plays into our relationship. It gives us the space we need to explore our own interests and stay in touch with our own selves. And it broadens our topics of conversation.

ADAPTABILITY/SPONTANEITY

While having a routine has kept us sane through this pandemic, we also recognize the importance of adaptability and spontaneity. For example, now that the days are getting shorter (and colder!), we’re discovering that it’s getting harder to motivate ourselves to get outside in the early morning. But we also recognize how much better we feel when we move first thing. So, we’re switching up our schedule to include a shorter walk in the morning (about 20 minutes) and then our longer walk or run after work. We’ve also decided to add some more core training into our schedule, so we’ve implemented squats, sit-ups, and pushups on

our walk days. This minor adaptation keeps our daily routine feeling fresh and fun.

We also find so much joy in spontaneity. “Wait, you finished work early? I just wrapped up my day!

Mike surprised me with peonies
from our garden!

Impromptu date night! You get the wine; I’ll get the cards! Hooray!”

It’s fun to switch things up on a dime every now and then. Mike and I look for these special impromptu moments to do something out of the ordinary, like go for a drive and pick up our favorite Mexican food, discover a new movie we both haven’t watched (that’s a tough one), or surprise each other with a gift “just because.”

It doesn’t seem like much, but Mike and I recognize that we’ve managed through this pandemic because we openly communicate about what’s working and what’s not. We respect each other’s perspectives and support each other’s needs. We check in with each other to see where we’re at— Sera’s at 40% capacity; Mike, can you cover that extra 10%

Much needed apple and kiss after a grueling
hike on Cannon Mountain
Sera in IllumiNITE Multi-Wrap; Vigor Singlet

today?—and we adapt accordingly (Thanks, Brené Brown for the family gap plan!).

We actively work at keeping our romance fresh and exciting while also stable and comforting. Love may be on lockdown, but it doesn’t have to feel like punishment! 

I’d love to hear what you’re doing to keep sane through this pandemic! 

Please share in the comments below.

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