Running Hills: Metaphors, Techniques and Goals.

I wrote this post yesterday during lunch but forgot about it because I had one thing on my mind:  BABY!!! How about I post it this morning instead:)

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You know you need a life when you get really excited because you finally found your favorite dinosaur shirt (don’t ask me how it ended up in the dish towel drawer).  I even wore a matching sports bra just because I was so excited about the event.

I had my own little spin class this morning in my dark family room.  Billy really loves the sound of a spin bike, fan, and me gulping down my water bottle at 6 in the morning.  How did he get so lucky?

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As I was doing a hill climb and sweating into my eyeballs I started thinking about one of my favorite chapters from Mile Markers about HILLS!!!  PS I am the highlighting queen, I have highlighted 98% of this book.

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I can remember when I was in high school running up the huge hill by our house and comparing it to trials in my life (at the time those were my 11 pm curfew and not having enough money to buy an Abercrombie and Fitch shirt).  For some reason if I compare the hill I am running to something hard going on in my life (or what someone that is close to me is going through) while I am running I am able to power through it.  I get a burst of adrenaline, pump my arms and have a strong desire to conquer that hill. Proving to myself that I can do something hard without quitting gives me the best runner’s high ever.   It shows me that I am strong and can make it through anything I put my mind to.

Hard things in life and running/biking hills is what makes us strong….we would be pretty weak sauce if we ONLY trained by running downhill or floating through life without any problems.

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What better way to be prepared for running hills than running hills:)

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I love how she talks about avoiding comparing yourself to the people around you when running up a hill.  It is so easy to focus in on how others around us are doing and feeling bad if we aren’t doing as well which in turn affects our performance for the worse.  Focus on you and the hill, find your motivation and dig deep!

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PS I had this kind of yogurt for the first time and I instantly fell in love.

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PPS I announced the gender on HRG BABY wahoo!!!

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What do you think about when you are running up a hill?  Do you have tips for getting up a hill?

How often do you do hill work?  Do you live in an area with a lot of hills or do you have to do hills on the treadmill?

Did you have a curfew when you were in high school?

What was the last food you instantly fell in love with?

Do you have a favorite t-shirt that you love to wear?

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95 comments

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When I’m runnin uphill I put my music on full blast and give it my all…. Nothing feels better then when you reach the top knowing you dug deep and gave it your all! No more answering your questions…. I gotta go check out your baby page!!!!!!!!! Eeeekkkkk!!!!!!

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You are so right….nothing feels better than getting to the top. Thank goodness for music getting us through tough runs!

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Love the shirt–it kind of glows in the dark. I would think the sound of the fan and bike would be great ‘white noise’ to sleep too–Billy should be appreciative that you supply that;-)

I always think how easy it will be after I get up the hill. I feel so powerful and strong after I run up a hill, I love doing hills more than speed workouts.

I love any shirt that is long–I have an extremely long torso so its hard for me to find shirts that fit. I still buy plain maternity t-shirts because they are longer….that was my best find ever while pregnant!

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HAHA it does…I didn’t notice it glowed until you said that. I can’t wait to tell Billy about the white noise HELPING him sleep better. I am so with you, I LOVE long shirts…I feel so much more comfortable in them!

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I just tried that yogurt yesterday. I love it!
I don’t have a strategy for hills – all I know is that their hard. I dont do hills very often until warm weather and I run outside.

I can’t wait to check out the baby page!!

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It’s amazing right! I do more hills during the summer too, winter I am in on the treadmill!Hope you are having an amazing day Heather!

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I give my little grandson Eliot that yogurt for lunch. He loves it. He gets it with strawberries and a bagel with Nutella. I’m his favorite. ;)

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I LOVE the name Eliot:) You clearly are his favorite and I am pretty sure I want that exact same meal that you give him.

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I have a favorite hoodie, not t-shirt. It’s evident because it’s in every.single.picture of me. Haha, I realized this a little while ago, but I don’t care because it’s my fave:)
Congrats on a girl, that’s so exciting!

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I am just like you, obsessed with the same hoodie ha. I love it, they are so comfortable. Thanks so much Heidi, I really appreciate it!

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Wow! What an inspiring post. I’ve also dedicated harder portions of training runs to someone I care about which helps me get through tough spots. There was a guy who passed away at my work (I had only met him a couple times, but it was still so sad), anyways.. On my run that evening whenever I would feel tired, I would say in my head “do these next 2 minutes for Al” and it made it so much easier. It’s all mental :)

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Thanks so much Leanne! That is so cool that you dedicate portions of a hard run to someone too.. I love how motivating it is and when running we can think more clearly and think about ways to help them easier. You are so right…it is ALL mental. You are amazing!

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There are days when I search out the route with the most hills and days I completely avoid them – it’s strange but I have to be in the mood for them!

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I completely agree. Somedays the thought of anything more than a flat road is too much and somedays I just WANT the challenge of hills:) We are a crazy bunch. Have an amazing day Claire!

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My half-marathon in Nashville is going to be very hilly this weekend! Eeek wish me luck!! ;)

So are you going to tell everyone at work today what the gender is?? It’s so exciting! :)

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Seriously….I am so so excited for your half…you are going to rock it. I can’t wait to read the hilly recap:) Yep, my students are going crazy, they are so excited which makes me even more excited!

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I live in Chicago so I have zero hills, but I learned back in High School to power up hills! I absolutely have to accelerate and push it to get over that hill! I love the metaphors!

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I love the word accelerate, it makes running sound so fun and makes me realize how STRONG we all are for doing it. When I come do the Chicago marathon someday can we play a lot.

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Over the past few days, I seem to have fallen in love all over again with avocado- mashed with garlic powder, salt & pepper = perfection!

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Now you are going to make me fall in love with that, girl…I am drooling. What do you eat it with?

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Ohh you gotta try it, Janae! It’s perfect on toast, topped with eggs (preferably runny yolk) :)!

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i love hills…i love the quote about some people dropping like flies. so true! i feel like every hill is an opportunity to gain some ground by pushing forward. blood orange and apple cinnamon chobani – but now i need to try this flavor!!

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HEY LIZZY! Your love for hills is making me love them more and I love what you said about pushing forward….that is an incredible feeling. I have never tried the apple cinnamon, time to go buy some!

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Congrats on the baby girl! Yay! They are much more fun to buy clothes for. ;-)
I just fell in love with Yoplait Greek yogurt in coconut flavor a couple of weeks ago. I throw a cup of it in the blender with fresh pineapple, ice, Silk Coconut milk and some protein powder and it makes the tastiest pina colada smoothie!
I rather enjoy the challenge that hills bring. When we lived in Colorado, one of my most favorite races was one that went up and over Snowmass mountain, climbing gradually for miles, then descending gently into Aspen. Challenging, but beautiful along the way. I live around quite a few hills now–if I run from my house to anywhere, I’m doing hill work, which is nice. I have to travel to run on a flat trail.

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Is it sad that I got beyond excited to be able to shop for my little girl…I can’t wait to go crazy. COCONUT FLAVOR…I need that in my life right this second. I think your love for a challenge is so awesome and inspiring! That is awesome that even if you don’t want to you are going to do hill work when you leave from your house!

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Is that the Chobani for kids??? I love that stuff! They have a banana flavored one that is to die for. YUM! I bought a lemon Chobani yesterday, I can’t wait to eat it. :)

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It is Chobani for kids, beyond delicious. I NEED the banana flavor right this second. Enjoy every bite of your lemon Chobani!

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Okay before I reply to any of your questions I have one all cosuming Q: WHERE DID YOU GET THAT SHIRT AND WHERE CAN I GET IT AND IS IT A RUNNING ONE AND IF NOT STILL WHERE CAN I GET IT. I love dinosaurs.

Ahem.

I actually really love hills, I prefer and do better on hilly courses I think because I can go ‘Just to the top then you’ve achieved something’ and I also repeat the mantra ‘what goes up must come down’.

I don’t currently do much hilly work, because of my ITBS and cause the half I’m preparing for is flat-ish but I usually love hill sprints and a hill race or two. I plan on re incorporating them after the half and I’m planning to run in San Francisco in September and i hear its crazy hilly.

I had a 10pm curfew that I could extend to 11pm if I was at a party or really keen to go.

I have a total obsession with these wholewheat chilli pasties they sell in wholefood stores here.

My favourite running top is a bright red one that says ‘Keep calm and go for a run’ in the style of the ‘Keep calm and carry on’ mantra. My BF got me it for Xmas. It looks like this: http://www.sweatshop.co.uk/cw3/assets/product_full/23401200_main_m.jpg

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HEY YOU! You are too cute. I got it at Urban Outfitters a few years ago, they always have really fun tshirts with random things on them. BOOO to your ITBS but I love what you said about ‘what goes up must come down’ that is so fun to think about! I am going to use that one. UM…I am going to have to buy one of those shirts now wahoo!

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Its okay, I have found myself some awesome alternatives: 1) http://shop.seibei.com/collections/all/products/sandwich-dinosaur-purple
2) THIS: http://dinosaursatemyshirt.spreadshirt.com/us/US/Shop/Article/Index/article/Run-Away-2675883 – if it was on tech fabric it’d be perfecto. x

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In Virginia Beach we have no hills, it is completely flat and I love it :) When I go and visit my parents in England and have to run hills I dread them. I always feel like I will never make it to the end. haha clearly I need to work on that.
Congratulations on your baby girl!!!!

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I need to come run in Virginia Beach with you…flat and fast! Thanks so much Becca!!!!

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My best running friend and I ran a very hilly half marathon together soon after reading Mile Markers and everytine a hill got tough we used the mantra “up and over” from the book.

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I love that you said your ‘best running friend.’ That makes me happy. I LOVE the Up and Over mantra too. Great job on your hilly half together!

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I haven’t been able to run hills in over a year due to injury- is it twisted that I can’t wait?!
I can only wear my favorite t to bed now because it has so many holes. I just can’t give it up though!

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That isn’t twisted at all, I am sure you are craving a good hill run. BOO TO INJURIES! I bet you look forward to bed time so you can wear your favorite shirt!

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My curfew in HS was 10 until junior year and then it was midnight.

I freaking want that dinosaur shirt! That is awesome.

I have these t-shirts from American Apparel that I love. I have four, so I feel like a cartoon character because they are pretty much all I wear.

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AMERiCAN APPAREL has the best shirts in the whole wide world, now you are making me want to go shopping.

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I loved this post and all the hill quotes. It honestly made me want to go out and start running some hills and tackling challenges!!

Also – I highlight a lot too…my books always end up with more color than not!

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That is what I love about running blogs/books…they make you want to get out and get your run on. Good to know you are a highlighting lover to:)

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I have a tech shirt from Under Armour that says “Protect this House” on the back and I love wearing it while running/working out. As soon as it’s back in the rotation after laundry, I wear it on the next run!

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Those are awesome ways to look at running hills. I never really have minded hills, I always look a few feet ahead of me (never to the top) and just focus on keeping good posture and keep on moving! I don’t let myself walk, I find it harder in the end. I did hills on the treadmill but have a great hill about 6km for my house I ran. In training I did hills only every other week, probably not enough but I have never had a hilly race course.
No curfew! Just had to say when I was going to be home and be home by then.
Opa Calamari… soo good!
My favorite tshirt is a long sleeve bamboo one from my first (and only) marathon.

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Where I live there is a lot of very hard hills, some are those really annoying incline ones that go forever , they are nasty and mean. Then the ones that are pointy and steep but are shorter. If I do a very long run those hills absolutely wreck me. I have always been told to push the hills because in raves people often slow down, that’s where you will catch them. I have had a lot of practise with pace so I almost know straight away to get on my tip toes and really really push the hills!! But most importantly I remember how awesome the hill will feel on the way back :)

I have been loving doing my workouts at home: I do body pump DVD in the lounge room, it annoys my family but they know how moody I get if I don’t get exercise in my day!

When is the states cross country season ??

I have a few favourite t shirts but this post remind me of my best friend , she wears this jumper with husky puppy’s And paw prints on them that she’s had since she was 10 & still fits her , haha. She sloths around on the couch with it on when she has a day off :) so funny !

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My favorite t shirts are Old Navy’s. I don’t buy anything ever from there – except t shirts – love love love.

Thanks for the tips on hills – I am going to use that metaphor to get me through. When I ran then 15K a month ago and was crashing I had thought about my family members who passed away due to cancer (the run was cancer related) and how I was running for them since they couldn’t anymore.

It really gets you through :)

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I agree, to get better at hills you need to do hills. That was always my coach’s motto. congrats again on finding out it is going to be a girl! And yes, that yogurt is heavenly. I want to try the other champion flavors!

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there are SO many hills in my town that its impossible NOT to train on hills..haha, they are tough but I love how strong I feel when its done with.

my curfew was 10-11 pm when I was 17 and I hated it…when i moved out to college my parents had no control over it anymore but my little sister never had a curfew at the same age..go figure. sometimes its not beneficial being the oldest, haha!

last food i instantly fell in love with is blueberry chobani!

p.s. YAY for you and the billster having a GIRL! i’m sure she’s going to be absolutely beautiful :)

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I did a lot of hill training for the NYC Half since we did a loop of Central Park (SO hilly!). I usually train there now too so hills are a constant thing. While they aren’t my favorite, they are certainly challenging. Plus, they make runs interesting because sometimes a completely flat course can just be boring!

PS. CONGRATS on having a girl :)

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I’m actually about to start hill training and I have to say they seem pretty scary. I was wondering how I would compare with others. Thanks for the reminder that I should focus on the task at hand.

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Hill training is the best. It’s so hard when you’re doing it (and I always wonder WHY I’m voluntarily putting myself through it!) but you feel like a rockstar after you conquer the hill. I like doing hills with a group, that way I find that I tend to push myself harder.

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I like running hills too! Once you get to the top you feel so powerful! Hills can definitely kick your butt but they make you stronger :)
ps – still super excited about your little girl!!! ahhh!!!

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True story: I wrote my college entrance essay on running up a hill as a metaphor for overcoming tough stuff in life. It was definitely not as well written and waaaay more cheesy, but same idea!

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WOW!! Jill, that is so awesome…I want to read it!

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When running up a hill I just repeate over and over that I can do it and I think of something else hard that I accomplished to prove to myself that I can do this. I also shorten my stride.

In life hills, I just take it one day at a time and remind myself to breathe.

I haven’t been doing it at all lately! yikes! We don’t have hills in Houston, so I’m going to have to add in a parking garage to my route.

Yes. On weeknights it was 9. On the weekends my Jr. year it started at 11, but got moved to 12…I didn’t have my curfew removed until a week before I left for college…and all of my friends were already gone. thanks mom. I really was a good kid – I didn’t go to parties, drink, smoke, do drugs, or innappropriate things with boys – so it really got on my nerves that my mom was so strict with my curfew and would sometimes accuse me of doing bad things.

Veggie Tempura Roll. I die.

Yes, my white v-neck neon lettered Texas Tech shirt. I love it so much that it became my workout shirt, so I bought a nother one to wear on the regular (the workout one is starting to get dingy looking)

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Good call on buying another favorite shirt too:) Veggie tempura roll, you are making me drool! That is a great idea to use a parking garage for hill training, I have never thought of that!

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So happy for you that you found out you are having a girl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I never do any set hill work but because I live in the Blue Ridge Mountains, I run on hills on almost all of my long runs. Over the 3 years I’ve lived here I can definitely tell a difference (I used to only run where it was FLAT in Boston or Michigan)

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Thanks so much Claire, we are beyond excited. It is amazing how big of a difference it makes to include hills into our training, way to go!

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When I’m running up a hill, which seems like all the time lately, I just keep thinking the faster I go the faster I’ll be at the top. Sometimes I like to take pause at the top to just look down at what I’ve accomplished.

Where I live it seems like I really can’t run farther than 2 miles without running into not just a hill, but a hill up the side of a mountain. At first I avoided it, but now I try to find the hardest, steepest, longest hills and conquer them!

If I remember my curfew right I think it was 10 PM on school nights 12 on weekends.

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WOW..that is awesome that you have so many hills around them and you are totally conquering them!

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Running hills I just try to think Up and Over. They’ve been a real challenge in my life lately! And I can relate to the metaphor. I’ve never done too much hill work but am starting to. The last couple of races i’ve done have had rough hills, so they are definitely challenging me and my mental capacity.

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I love the simplicity of Up and Over….perfect!

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That shirt is too cute, need one for baby girl she has somehow fallen in love with dinosaurs – and pigs. Whatever.

Great post, I need some hill inspiration for one of my races during my crazy MAYhem next month. I try to focus on how disapointed I will feel when I stop and remember that once I am done with this run I can’t retry this effort, do it now or never. I have also tried to tell myself that my Mom or Dad (both long since passed) will be waiting for me at the top. Kinda over the top cheesy but it has helped in the past. I don’t do hill work like actual hill repeats (I should) but I do trail run and you can’t really avoid the hills there.

I can’t remember but it was probably on the early side. Which is why we either snuck out or did the everyone is sleeping over at someones house but we are all just out together kind of thing. Bad kids.

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I will let you know if I find a mini version of the shirt for your baby girl! You are going to rock your May races! I love what you said about not being able to retry the effort once you are done and it gave me the chills to hear that you think about your parents at the top…that is really special.

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Those highlighted sections are amazing, I finally ordered that book!

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OH GOOD. Let me know what you think of it!

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My fave t shirt is actually an exboyfriends … but I’ve blocked that part out of my mind ;) hahaha. It’s just so comfy! Days get better when I put it on.

The last food I instantly fell in love with was garlic naan. I had tried regular naan before and liked it … but garlic naan? Life changing!

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HAHAHA you can’t get rid of a comfortable shirt just because of a boy:) Garlic naan…I haven’t tried that!

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You are the bomb and I love you. I miss guessing the sexes every time! WOOHOO! Another miss. I may need to move to Utah so I can squeeze that little precious bundle. You think you love your nieces and nephews…..just wait Janae! And thank goodness for hand me downs! WOOHOO!! We need to talk about nursing–I hope you are planning to at least for a while. e

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YES PLEASE DO MOVE HERE. We do need to talk about that, I am definitely planning on nursing!

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When running up a hill, I think…”don’t faceplant” and “don’t die” lol.

My curfew was 11 pm in high school (even as a senior). I didn’t really care though because I never went out to parties (or even knew that there were parties going on hahaha).

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HAHAH those are great mantras too. I didn’t know about the parties either plus I was exhausted by 11 ha!

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Both of these are super embarrassing to admit but my new favorite t-shirt is one that says “Team (fiance’s name)” that I made to cheer him on in the NYC half marathon and when I run up hills I say, “I eat hills bigger than this for breakfast!!!” So lame but very effective :)

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HAHAHA I love your tshirt, that is so cute. Your mantra is awesome…I might have to steal it from you!

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I just wanted to let you know that this post REALLY REALLY REALLY helps me.
1. i’m going to read mile markers now.
2. hills are my kryptonite and make me cry. literally cry. (i’m a new runner).
3. i’m actually motivated to run outside tomorrow morning and try my hill-y route.
So… thanks :D

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I am so glad Rona! You have to read the book and let me know how your hilly run goes tomorrow. You are going to rock it!

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I LOVE hills!!! I am definitely a hill-seeker. It makes my body and mind so much stronger (usually I have to say to myself, “Earn the downhill! Earn the downhill!” which is a mantra that I got off some health magazine).
Loved this post!

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Thanks Michelle. I LOVE that you are a hill-seeker, you are my inspiration. I am totally stealing that mantra from you, I want to EARN that downhill…perfect!

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What do you think about when you are running up a hill? Do you have tips for getting up a hill? My race, my pace!

How often do you do hill work? Do you live in an area with a lot of hills or do you have to do hills on the treadmill? I am surrounded by hills/mountains. It’s hard to avoid them unless you want to run in a very small circle.

Did you have a curfew when you were in high school? Midnight until my senior year and then it got pushed back to 1:00 PM. Didn’t matter either way, I would sneak out most weekend nights.

What was the last food you instantly fell in love with? Sweet potato fries at a new local sports bar. They have the great local, organic foods!

Do you have a favorite t-shirt that you love to wear? I have a couple in rotation at the moment.

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I love your swing…my race, my pace! UM…those fries sound incredible. I must have them asap!

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Since I found out I’m pregnant, Baby is the only thing on my mind, too. It feels like I’m on this cloud all day! It’s a nice feeling to know you’re never alone anymore :)

I am also in LOVE with the baby yogurts. I can’t seem to finish the adult size and I think these are a lot tastier and have a lot less sugar! Score!

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Isn’t it crazy…I seriously can’t think of anything else:) So happy your nausea is starting to go away and the dress you were wearing in your latest post is gorgeous!

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I used to run hills every day since I lived in an area with rolling hills everywhere. The only flat place was a track and KILL me trying to do an 8 mile run on a track every day.

Now I live by the coast and it’s the flattest place I’ve ever been. There are ZERO hills and I can’t even find bleachers to run! So…I don’t do hill work anymore!

Because of you I now like cottage cheese. with grapes. Are you proud? ;)

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BEYOND PROUD!! I am so glad you love that delicious combo:) No bleachers even..you may have to do it on the treadmill every now and then:(

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LOVE this!!! I actually love hills for THAT reason. They are hard, killer, painful, yet awesome. They make ME grow as a person–and for that I am thankful :)

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i definitely try to channel another challenge in my life or in anothers life to get me to the top of a hill!

i do hill work not intentionally, but if i run in central park theres always hills.. but i jus started incorporating them on the treamdill, however i find i definitely slow down and walk if im on an incline on the tread vs being outside!

i didnt really have a curfew actually, but it was NY state law to not drive after 9 until you were 18! ( i never followed this, oooops)

ive recently fallen in love with brussel sprouts!

hmmm i just fell in love with a flowy comfy soft tank top from h&m yesterday!

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OMG and most importantly: CONGRATS ON THE BABY GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) I KNEW it was gonna be a girl!!!

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“The more we practice the fitter we become and the less we fear.” Love that! Going to be chanting that one to myself at the gym today.

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I’m obsessed with Mile Markers, too. I highlighted so much and each page is dog eared. Such a great book for life!

Congrats on your little girl! I have a boy and a girl but I have to say shopping on the ‘pink side’ is much more fun!

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I coach cross country and I always tell my kids to pretend they are pulling on a rope to get up a hill. My old cross country coach in high school use to tell me that and I still do that to this day! We don’t have a ton of hills here on the coast, but I have a few that I’ll do hill repeats on and they are killer.

If you like that flavor of chobani champions, you’ve gotta try the orange cream flavor. It’s like a creamsicle!!

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Ugh! I definitely don’t do hill work as much as I should… but, most of my outdoor runs have some hills along the route, so that’s better than nothing.

I’ve never seen Chobani Champions… I’m definitely gonna have to keep an eye out for those!!

Congrats again on the news!!! :) :) :)

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At first I was like, “dang! this girl has some crazy highlighting abilities. All the lines are perfect across the page.” And then I remembered you have a Kindle/nook :)

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Congrats on your news, what an exciting time in your life. I do the same thing highlight like there is no tomorrow. Chobani Champions I will have to look for those.

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I need to get this book now! I’m hooked!

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This is such a great post! Thanks, Janae!!

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Yes I had a curfew, I think it was like 11? Even when I used to go home during college/after college my parents would still ask why I had to go out “so late” with friends, aka 9pm haha.

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this could not apply more to my life right now…awesome post…so relevant! whenever I run a hill, I tell myself, for every uphill there’s a downhill. hoping my life downhill starts soon bc April has been one huge ass climb!
yay on baby girl! congrats!!

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