Monday Matters + How much of speed is NATURAL/TALENT and how much of it is HARD WORK!?

No Andrew for our Sunday selfie and just a few more Sundays until a little babe will join the picture.

Brooke woke up at around six and then went back  into her room.  At 7 she came out and told me she was ready to go to church.  She found her dress (one that won’t fit for a little bit of time) and was ready to get the day moving.  Luckily, our church doesn’t start at 7 so we had a few hours before leaving.

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Knox came out of his room wearing his Halloween costume ha.  So we all just snuggled for a few minutes before starting.

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When I woke up yesterday morning I had a strong desire for crepes so we went with crepes for breakfast.  My brother has a really great recipe that I LOVE HERE… the kids loved them too.  Our crepes were combined with watching the NYC Marathon!

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We went to church and then the kids were balls of energy:)

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I went straight for the pajamas and garlic bread (with all of the butter on the planet).

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Everyone, including the dog, is thrilled when Andrew gets home from school!

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For dinner we had these Chicken and Bacon Autumn Chopped Salads and if you need a good salad recipe, try this out!  We loved it.

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Because somebody has to eat the Almond Joys (NO ONE ELSE WILL in our house)!

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We are starting a new tradition (so hopefully our kids will want to keep hanging out with us when they get older too)—>  Sunday family game night! I told them that I would even make milkshakes if they bring their friends over to come play too.

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Watching their little brains work during games like Spot It is so fun for me.  We don’t have very many games that the kids can play too so please send your favorites in the comments.

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And then we talked to my sister’s family for a bit.  They’ve been sick over there so we are waiting patiently to go see them again!

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I thought I would talk about a reader’s question from a few days ago… I REALLY want to know your thoughts on this.  I don’t think there is a right or a wrong answer but I want to know what YOUR experience has been in terms of getting faster/speed/talent vs hard work etc.

The question she asked was what my personal experience has been with getting faster… did running come natural for me or not?  She also said—>  “It seems to me that some people have a natural talent for running (as with all other things in life), so it comes easier to them.  Interested to know your thoughts.”

How much of our running is innate ability vs hard-work (one of the things I do not understand about running)?  I think this is a really interesting question and something I would love to know… I’ll share my personal experience and thoughts on this!  Here is an article about this with more scientific facts:)

I definitely think there are some running genetics in my family!  My grandpa (below.. I love this picture of him) is 17 in this picture and he was VERY fast.  He set many state records at the time and coached for decades afterwards.  I have an uncle and cousin on my mom’s side also that are VERY fast (my uncle did a 13:32 3 mile race once upon a time) and they both ran at college.  My grandpa, uncle and cousin were all about the shorter distances and I feel like my body is much more made for the half-marathon type distance.

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I see some similarities in their strides:)

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So yes, I definitely think running is something that comes through my mom’s side of the family which helped it come more natural but I also started running at 12 years old (and exercising regularly pretty consistently since then).  So I think that has to be a part of the equation of training too?  I think our natural ability can only take us so far and then from there it is all about the consistency, work and training that we do outside of that.   I do think that running comes easier for some than others (like anything in life) but I think that our training, mental game and hard work can take us so much farther than we could ever imagine.  Also, my fastest race times were on days that I was really angry ha so maybe I just need to get really angry about something the morning of my next marathon because I think that makes a big difference in my times too;)

I really want to know your story… I want to know if you feel like running comes naturally for you and how your paces have changed over the years!

Overall, we are all just out there doing what we love so keep doing it whether you like to race or not… whether you run because of the mental benefits or the physical benefits… whether you are just starting running or if you have ran for 30 years.  Just keep doing it and know that you are doing an amazing job!

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Time for some random Monday Matters!

*Andrew found Beretta with a medal on that the kids must have put on her.  I do need to enter her into a dog race, she is crazy fast.  PS have you heard that blindfold racing is a thing now… yeah, no thank you.  I have a hard enough time not falling while running without a blindfold on.

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*Someone told me to go try the hot white chocolate from Starbucks and I wanted to hug them afterwards.  It was amazing.

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*Watching the NYC Marathon yesterday was very emotional for me (and not just because I’m pregnant).  Seeing Shalane win (and the first US woman to win this marathon in 40 years) and all of her emotions coming out for that final stretch was amazing… tears and goosebumps everywhere for me.  I’ve rewatched it about 25 times too:)

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*Seeing Meb finish his career (2:15:29 and 11th place) had me crying all over again.  He gave it all on the course yesterday.

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*SO SO GOOD!!  Lindsey’s interview with Deena Kastor is awesome!  Listen to it on your next run!

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*I was reaching in my purse to grab my lip gloss and a spider crawled out… I think my heart actually stopped working for 15 seconds.

*Always a good idea to redo your kitchen when you are about 5 weeks away from your due date;)  I forgot to show you the other day but this is the quartz that we picked out for our kitchen… I can’t wait.  This is going to be like Christmas morning for Andrew and me!  Andrew will be doing a backsplash too so that is next on our list of things to pick out!

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*I saw on Meb’s documentary that he puts his race shirt on a pillow at the hotel the night before the race so that he can pin his bib on perfectly.  He posted this yesterday too… such a good idea, I’m going to try this.  Usually I am putting my race bib on when I get to the race and it turns out to be completely uneven.

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*Becca recommended for me to watch Run Mama Run so I did and I absolutely loved it!  It is all about elite runner Sarah Brown and her training during pregnancy.

*An interesting story HERE about how locals come to run with inmates at the Oregon State Penitentiary!

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PS just in case you missed out last week, the top three posts were:

*34 weeks and my Maternity Needs!!

*Stories from my iPhone + Hard is GOOD!

*You know you are married to a runner when (by Andrew)….

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For those of you that love Starbucks—>  What is your favorite order there?  

-I just want to have five of these white hot chocolates a day.

When do you put your race bib on your shirt for a race?  The night before, the morning of, at the race, on the bus?

How has your speed improved since you first started running (brag today!!).  How much of running/speed is natural talent and how much of it comes from training/hard work?  What’s your story with this?

We need game recommendations!  Any good recommendations of games we can play with two younger kids?

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93 comments

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I have a daughter the exact same age as Brooke and Knox and her favorite game is Sleeping Queens! It’s so fun for boys and girls!!

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THANK YOU Alexandra! Going over to Amazon to check it out. THANKS and I hope you have a fabulous week!

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I’m with you—I think that natural ability can only take you so far, but there has to be work put in, as well. I ran cross country in high school, but I wasn’t a standout runner or anything. I also didn’t push myself like I could have. It wasn’t until after college that I really started training hard and racing more that I started winning races and running the times I wanted. I think that dedication and hard work can take you farther than you ever thought possible.

I don’t like chocolate, but I like some things that have white chocolate in them. Does that Starbucks drink taste anything like normal hot chocolate?? If so, I won’t like it. But if it’s completely different, I kind of want to try it!

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Ahhh I love the countertops you picked out! Can’t wait to see the new kitchen — you guys are so fun! Always up to adventures!

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Love Spot It. It’s a fantastic game. When my kids were younger they loved the card games Uno, Go Fish, Crazy Eights and War (sigh). They also loved 4 Way Countdown. It’s a math game with dice but super fun and depending on the child’s age and math ability, you can tailor it to be easy or challenging. Highly recommend.

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THANK YOU Elizabeth… these sound perfect for us! I really appreciate it… we will be adding these to our game night. Have an amazing day!

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Love the picture of your grandpa! So cool!
My kids are a little older but they loved Zingo and Zingo Sight Words, Connect 4, Bop It, Monopoly Jr, Scrabble Jr, Sorry, Trouble, Aggravation, Doodle Dice, and Story Cubes.

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THANK YOU for the recommendations. Our kids want Monopoly so bad but we know they won’t really understand it… I totally forgot about Monopoly Jr. That would be perfect. Putting these in my amazon cart;) THANKS girl and have a fabulous Monday!

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I definitely think speed is a combination of talent and hard work. I’m not fast and I never will be, but I know I am faster when I’m putting in the training — especially strength training! It’s crazy how much faster I am when I’m consistently working on strength in addition to running!

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I totally agree… strength training really does make such a huge difference with speed and your comment is a perfect reminder for me post-baby to do this if I want to get faster. I hope you have a great day Joanne!

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Hi Janae. I have a daughter a year younger than Brooke and Knox. I am wondering if you can incorporate a Christmas “wish list” into one of your posts in the near future, to get some ideas for Christmas. Toys, art books (i know Brooke really loves art), any learning books, games, etc.
Thanks and have a great day!!!❤️

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Oh I LOVE this idea. I will 100% do this for a post, thanks so much Ashley!!! I hope your Monday is a great one with your little girl!

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Your countertops are going to be beautiful!

Our family always loved Apples to Apples Jr. It’s fun for a big range of ages, you can play it with a large number of people, everyone participates during each turn, and we would all end up laughing hysterically for some of the card combinations–it also gives different personalities a chance to shine through. It does require some reading, but it looks like your kids are getting there!

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I didn’t know they had a Jr. edition… I LOVE that game! Thank you, adding it now! I hope your day is great Michelle!

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Holy crap my speed has definitely changed in my 5 years of running! My first 5k was 38 and some change, now down to 28:52! Lots of hard work and miles in those 10 minutes, though! I do have some speed on my dads side of the family, and I am getting there!

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JENNY… that is INCREDIBLE. Wow, huge congrats!! Thanks so much for sharing!

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We have a small local coffee place in my town that I prefer over Starbucks, but when I do go there, I typically stick with lattes or cappuccinos made with almond milk. I’m simple and I can’t fathom the idea of drinking 600+ calories (no matter how delicious it is) for just coffee.
My speed has consistently improved – I noticed recently that since I started listening to podcasts instead of music while running, I naturally tend to run faster (although I don’t feel like I’m pushing myself any harder). I think there’s something about not hearing my pace every half mile that just keeps me motivated. Plus it’s getting cold here now so I run faster to get done faster and get warm again!
I would not say I am a “natural” runner. I will say, after about 5 years or so of regular running, I’ve gotten a lot better. I think there is a combination of natural ability and hard work that plays into success in anything athletic. I 100% admire people who run competitively, but I just compete with myself and work to get better for my own sake – I will never be the fastest, but I finish and I feel great – that is the important part!

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Everybody has a natural “fast” limit. Whether or not you reach that individual max speed depends on hard and smart you train. For instance, no matter how smart or hard I train, I would never be able to keep up with Shalane Flanagan or Kara Goucher or Janae Baron. But I could probably run faster than my current 8:20 tempo pace if I tried harder and trained smarter, too.

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I LOVE Starbucks — I alternate between a Skinny Vanilla Latte (with extra pump of sugar free syrup) or a Flat White with non-fat milk (and a few packets of Splenda). YUM!

I put on my race bib the morning of the race — as a final “check” before I head over to the starting line.

My mile time has gone from 12+ min to 10:05 — and it’s all because of hard work and continued practice. I’m not at all a “natural” when it comes to running. I’m more of a natural swimmer and ice skater — if that makes sense?

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I love the White Hot Chocolate with Peppermint added! if you like peppermint try it! :)

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Well, you are brilliant. Going today to add the peppermint!

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sooo i couldn’t decide if this was really weird and i shouldn’t comment or just very funny and a sign that i’ve been reading for a long time :) i had a dream last night that we were hanging out! and it was so fun haha. in the dream my husband and i were in utah and i decided to just call you up so we could meet. you and i had a blast, so maybe one day it’ll happen for real :) have a great week, janae! xoxo

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I AM SO SO GLAD YOU TOLD ME ABOUT YOUR DREAM:) That makes me feel cool! Come to Utah and hang out, seriously! Thanks Courtney and I hope your Monday is fabulous!

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I think fast running has more to do with genetics than I want it to (body build etc). I have been running since I was 9. And while I’ve had some good PRs in the last little while I don’t think I could say I’m fast. That could also have a lot to do with training though. I’ve been running that long but haven’t ever REALLY followed a training plan for anything and I’ve never run a bigger rave than a 5k and one 20 miler. Something I’m going to work on next year. I wish I could say that my 3 mile was in the teens. I’ve always wanted that! But my PR is 22:22. I keep telling myself that I will get there, but that will take more work than naturally faster-long legged people. I’m only 5’2” so I’m pretty little.

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I think I have to work twice as hard to be half as fast as the speedy people but I still do it. I wonder if natural talent can make a person lazy, because it comes so easily to them they get complacent and then sloppy because they don’t need to work as hard and they get used to easy progress.

Anyhoo, ran nyc in just over 5 hours (was dearly hoping for under 5 but just couldn’t do it). Many many thanks to the readers who said it was okay to wear a big old coat, it worked perfectly — that wind is no joke.
Met people in the staging area at the start who have similar paces to mine and were also inspired and encouraged by their super speedy friends (and who also ignore the snobs who tell them if you’re not running sub4 you have no business running a marathon — get over yourself!)

Congrats to everyone else who ran it, that was so much fun and I have deep respect for everyone who ran those hard streets and never ending bridges.

Can we do it again next year?

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HUGE HUGE HUGE CONGRATS on your amazing marathon yesterday Northanon! I heard the wind was pretty intense yesterday! I hope you recover well and let’s all meet there next year to run the marathon. Seriously, way to go on your marathon… I hope you enjoyed the sights and sounds so much!

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Oh my gosh, I just looked up the video of Shalane winning the marathon and I am sitting at my desk bawling at work! I am so happy for her!

Family game night is a great idea. The kids I babysit love Spot It, but they also really like Apples to Apples Junior. And it’s actually a pretty fun game for adults to play, too!

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I highly recommend Melissa and Doug Suspend. Great to play as a family, simple enough for just the two kids to play or even play alone. It’s quick, fairly quiet, and doesn’t make adults feel like they are losing brain cells as they play LOL Great for after baby is born. Hullabaloo is fun for active inside the house play in the winter.

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Okay, that game looks awesome… it’s like Jenga but even cooler. I love it… totally going to get that ! Going to check out Hullabaloo. Thanks Amy and thanks for taking the time to tell me about these!

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The countertops look amazing! I can’t wait to see how the kitchen turns out :)

I think that yes running ability doe shave something to do with natural talent but that talent will go to waste without proper training. If you have two people who start at the same level, one with natural talent but no consistency and the other with little to no natural talent but the desire to work hard then the person who puts in the work will get faster. That’s just my opinion though!

Do you have Yahtzee? I think that would be a good one for kids because you and Andrew would be able to help them think the game through without really cheating. I hope that makes sense but it may not.

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I haven’t the slightest idea if my ability to run is innate! I was that girl who HATED gym class, had a doctor’s note to avoid running and fainted when the teacher made me run anyway. lol, I will NEVER forget that in 9th grade! Somewhere over the years I learned I wanted to run, kept it up and now it’s my thing. Even though my dad ran plenty of races and the NYCM, he wasn’t a fast runner, just dedicated.

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Doodle Dice. Anyone over 5 can play and actually enjoy it. :)

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OH FUN… sounds perfect for our kids! Just put it in my Amazon cart ha. Thanks and have a great day!

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I was thinking about you on Saturday b/c I stopped at a bagel shop right after my long run and they were giving out hot chocolate samples!! It was pretty much the best thing ever and my first thought was “Janae would love this!”

Love this discussion about speed being hard work vs. talent. I have some running genes in my family- my dad was really into running and pretty fast in his day, but I don’t think I necessary have innate running speed talent. Like it doesn’t come easy for me to just run fast- especially at the short distances. I definitely get better as the distance gets longer (half marathons, marathons, etc) so if anything, I think I may have more of a talent for endurance (is that even a thing?). I also didn’t get into running into after college so definitely came to it late in the game. But in the last few years I’ve incorporated speed workouts and worked with a coach who has given me a lot more challenging training plans than what I used previously. And I’ve seen a huge improvement in my race/ workout times since then. So I think that even without that natural talent, it’s possible to get faster with hard work.

I’m also reading “How Bad Do You Want It” by Matt Fitzgerald (great book btw!) and he talks about how sometimes the person with the most natural born talent ends up falling short in races and does not reach their full potential. He says that what sometimes happens is that a person with a lot of talent never really has to work for it so when things get tough they don’t know how to handle that setback. Vs. someone else who has worked hard for what they have and knows how to overcome obstacles. So I think you some of both elements to really be successful.

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AHHH I wish I was on your run with you on Saturday for the bagel and hot chocolate samples:) Thank you for thinking about me! I absolutely think that talent for endurance can be a thing! I LOVE that you have seen so many huge improvements with your times since using a coach and the speed workouts, you are awesome Diana! OH I love that book and could not agree more with what he said about what sometimes happens to those born with natural talent! Thank you for sharing, I loved reading your thoughts. Have a beautiful day!

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So jealous! I would love to redo my kitchen. Love the countertop you picked out.
I think running in general comes naturally in that I love it and I can usually train for a race fairly easily. But I’m not super speedy. I have a cousin who is SO fast and I know I train better than her (in that I have a schedule, I incorporate strength training and cross training. She just runs. Not that that’s bad. It’s just less structured) Anyway! So I think talent obviously can give you a big boost. I’ll probably never be as fast as her. But I definitely see improvement as I run and train, which I totally love. Last week I went for a run for the first time alone in a while (aka could do whatever pace my body naturally just wanted to do) and I was really surprised how fast I was going and it felt great.
If you haven’t tried the Caramel Apple Spice at Starbucks, it’s like apple pie in a cup! It’s really rich for me though, so I wish they had a half size of the smallest available. Haha

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Labyrinth! It has been our family’s favorite game for more than a year. Everyone loves it (and can play on a pretty even field) from my 6-year-old to my 17-year-old.

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Oh I totally forgot about Labyrinth! Our family would love that. THANK YOU Ranee!

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So I have to ask…. has anyone guessed that little girl’s name yet?! :D

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NOT YET… AHHHH we can’t believe it. We thought for sure someone would get it. One person is kind of close but no one has guessed it!

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Our family LOVES games as well. Our older kids are a bit older (6 & 9), but have been playing games for quite some time. We like Sleeping Queens, Cauldron Quest- this is a cooperative game so it encourages team work, Dancing Eggs/ gets you up and moving around , Animal upon Animal, Bugs in the Kitchen, Pictionary Junior, and Busytown- Eye Found It!- this is especially good for kids that aren’t yet reading super well because it is based on pictures. We have a 10 week old baby as well, and I am sure he will love games as much as his big sisters.

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THANK YOU Sara for the game recommendations! Oh Dancing Eggs sounds like a blast and so does Cauldron Quest… okay, I want them all now ha. Thank you so much! Congrats on your new little baby boy:)

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Look for old school games like ready set spaghetti (maybe amazon or ebay?), cootie, operation, connect 4, and don’t rock the boat (a fun game where you place pirate penguins on a boat and not let it tip over).

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Hi Janae!
We love games at our house. Our favourites right now are SORRY, ARGH (which is a pirate game that is all about collecting treasure and is a game of risk), and FARKLE (dice game – game of chance and collecting points).
As for a game for teens or adults, just FYI, CODE NAMES is so so good. Everyone loves playing it. We game it to pretty much everyone for Christmas last year!
Hope you have a great week!

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THANK YOU Tiffany for the recommendations, can’t wait to look them up! And thanks for the teen recommendations too… I’m going to have to get that for my sister! I hope your day is a great one!

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Oh my goodness, hot white chocolate???? I need to try that ASAP!!! It sounds amazingly good!! I always order a caramel macchiato but that might change soon! :)

I have always wanted to get faster, but I feel like it may just not be in my genes to be super speedy so I have to work for it! For some reason when it comes to strength training or running, I always pick running! But, I know in order to get faster I have to build up my core and legs to gain speed. Goals, goals and more goals! ;)

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We love Spot It! Another good game for young ones is Wig Out! It is a card game with fun characters and it goes super fast ;)

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I’ve never heard of this one. Totally adding it! THANK YOU!!! Have a great day Andrea!

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We got Push a Monster for our 5yr old’s birthday about 6 months ago and it has been a big hit. Everyone we have played it with so far has enjoyed it – even my husband’s Grandma. My husband is really into board games and follows this board game award thingy – the Spiel des Jahres – and it was the 2015 kid award winner.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VWULBKK/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_c_api_RUhaAb33SE6T7
Some other family favorites: Kerplunk, Monopoly Jr, Sorry…

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THANK YOU for the link… just added it to my cart. THANKS Kristin… cannot wait to play!

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Bib goes on race morning, usually 10 minutes or so before the race. I like the London Fogs or caramel machiatto at starbucks.

There is natural talent, but hard work makes up more than 90 percent of running success in my mind. When I started running consistently, putting in the miles, learning about recovery and all the little things, I just got better and my times just started dropping. People told me I had talent but it’s all relative (maybe I will place in an age group, or place in a race and a lot of times not but I run for fun). Talent doesn’t mean anything if I don’t put in the hard work. Hmm, well compared to when first started, my marathon pace is now faster than my initial 10km race pace. But then maybe I just didn’t know how to race a 10 km in the beginning. (as in done right it should hurt haha). Happy Monday!

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I put my bib on once I park and get ready to walk to the starting line. I don’t want to put it on earlier because then it might wrinkle – which is SOOOO silly to worry about, because the bib gets sweaty and stinky and wet, so what’s a little wrinkling?!? Do you remember the game Mousetrap when we were growing up?? That would be so great if you could find it for your kids! I remember having a blast with that game. It’s so awesome that you have game nights, and I totally hope they start bringing their friends over when they’re older! We had a game night too, and it was really special.
I think it’s a combination of hard work and talent! I was an OK runner until I got a coach and also just started running with faster people. Sometimes you just don’t know what you’re capable of until someone pushes you! I’m not super speedy, but I’ve definitely shaved off some time from my first half marathon to my current PR – 40 minutes, actually! It’s funny to think how now I can run so far at a certain pace, when a two-minute slower pace seemed hard just a few years earlier!

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OH I totally remember Mousetrap and our kids would love that! THANK YOU for reminding me of that! I completely agree with what you said about us not realizing what our potential is sometimes. FORTY MINUTES… huge congrats Miranda, you are amazing!

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When I first started running races, I would be embarrassed to put on my bib until I got to the race, since I would have to walk on the streets, ride the subway, etc., to get there. I felt like I was pretending to be an athlete… But nowadays, I put it on the night before (though I just do it on my dining table – the pillow is a much better idea!) and proudly commute to the race with everyone seeing my bib! :)

I doubt I have any athletic genes since I don’t know anyone in my family or among my relatives who excelled in any particular sport. For the state fitness test to graduate high school, I ran a mile in 9:11 and almost threw up. When I decided to start running at age 31, I couldn’t even do that, having stop to walk and go again. But fast forward 2 years, after lots of hard work and consistent running, I recently ran the 5th Ave Mile in 6:48 and then a few weeks later, the Staten Island half marathon in 1:56:07 at 8:52/mile!

So I absolutely believe in hard work helping you be faster, but there might be a limit on how fast you can ever be. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to say, run a 5 min mile or a sub-3:00 marathon. I’ll be lucky to run a sub-3:30 and BQ! lol. I also read somewhere that you will be the fastest you can ever be 7 years from the time you start running – have you ever read this? I can’t remember where or if there’s any scientific basis to it.

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I am so glad that you are at a place now that you realize YOU ARE AN ATHLETE and you can proudly walk around with your bib Eve! Huge congrats on both your 5th Ave Mile and the Staten Island half Marathon, incredible!! Oh that is really interesting about the 7 year thing. I want to find that article! I hope your day is great and thank you so much for sharing!

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Hi Janae! My favorite drink at Starbuck’s used to be their Caramel Macchiato but we don’t go there that often since we have a Keurig. :) About games for the kids, have you heard of Mel’s Kitchen Cafe? I love her blog…she’s a food blogger and posts tried and true recipes. I probably make more recipes from her site than any other food blogger. Anyways, she has 4 boys and one girl and has been putting out gift guides on toys and games that her kids love. I love them and have gotten so many great games from her list that no one else has heard of. Lately, we’ve been into Qwirkle. Not sure if we found it off her list or it came up while searching for other items from her list on Amazon. We played that with the kids yesterday and then my husband and I had a couple of competitive games last night after the kids went down for our date night. :) Have a great day, Janae!

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Darn it! I forgot to add the link to Mel’s site: https://www.melskitchencafe.com/gift-guides/

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my eyes were glued to the screen for the entire NYC marathon! seeing Shalane crush the competition was unreal. She looked like a machine in those last couple miles. i watched her give an interview this morning while i was running – she looks so happy, and I am so happy for her. it totally makes sense that running can be partly genetic and partly hard work. there are some people who just naturally run fast, even with no training. but everyone can improve with hard work, nomatter where they start out. :)

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I love the topic of this post , as I was just thinking about this during my last run! I was thinking about how some people (me, Bart Yasso, etc) talk about how they started and it was a struggle to do a whole 2 minutes, or a whole mile, on their first run, and then there are people (like you?) who started at like 5 miles early on. I think there is some natural aspect to it. But there’s this idea that some people are just great at things (like they can sing AND dance AND they super nice and make the perfect lasagnas and model?!) and I think that’s because if you take a risk and try something (like running) – AND succeed! – of course you’re going to take more risks and try more things (like racing, or biking or blogging). So maybe these folks are just good at finding success (no matter how long it takes) and then trying to find more!

My other thought (I’m on a tangent now) is that if you see someone do something, you know it’s possible. You saw your family run and be successful, so you knew it was an option. If you grow up never knowing something is an option, it may never cross your mind to try it. Or if it does, you might not know the path to attempting it. This is a common thought I have when thinking about first generation college students: if you never see anyone go to college, you may not know it’s a possibility. And if you do realize it’s a possibility, you might not know how to go about it. Same could be said for running, or races, or any hobby/habit!

Kid games – we (adults and little nephews/nieces) love this game called blockus https://www.amazon.com/Mattel-BJV44-Blokus-Game/dp/B00FBWBM3G

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There are definitely talented runners out there. I have friends who are crazy fast and logs really high mileages but never gets injured even though all they do is run. Whereas I spend almost an hour everyday to stretch/foam roll/do physio exercises just to avoid injury. But I also believe that hard work can take you further than you can imagine. I’m physically very UNtalented. I was always the last to get picked in team sports at school because I was just that bad haha. But my goal is to BQ. Coming from someone who ran a 5:46 marathon debut, that seems almost impossible. But I am working hard and a year later I’m already 42 minutes faster! (I only started running 2 years ago). So I firmly believe I will reach my goal one day, even if it takes me 10, 20, or 30 years, as long as I keep working hard at it!

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My favorite to play with little ones are Uno, Sneaky Snacky Squirrel, Shelby’s Snack Shack, Sequence for Kids, Flick’n Chicken (my husband hates this game and now refuses to play it because he is horrible at it!), Hiss (my favorite), and Count your Chickens. My youngest loves Head bands but completely stinks at it. So I made her a picture sheet to help her think of the questions to ask when playing. Sometimes it is brutal, Guess Who is a level down from Headbands and great to work on asking questions.
As for running talent, bad knees and a bone disorder have sort of curtailed my running but I was never fast. I was talented in race walking and I did compete for many years, will have to see if one of my girls has that talent. My sister and I both swam on a swim team growing up. We did it year round and my girls seem to have some talent in that area. I think it is some talent but you have to put the effort in to make it work. My oldest is playing basketball and unlike swimming, it has not come naturally but she loves it. My husband was never an athlete and suggested that it wasn’t her sport until I reminded him that it does take practice!! But literally with swimming, she just did it so I think that is what he expected especially since the same thing happened when my youngest started.

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I read about the Oregon State Penitentiary race here—> https://rw.runnersworld.com/selects/the-wall.html
It was a nice to read that before a race the comments of the inmates were just like that of any other runner, worrying about what you had for breakfast, previous training… etc. I also loved how joining a running club provides a support system for them in and out of jail.

I don’t have the speed genes, but have some friends that found it so easily to pick up in running and can go fast. I wonder sometimes how much can they improve if they follow a training program?. They find it so easy that they get away without following a structured program (or strength training, cooling down, stretching), they just run whenever they feel like it. I get injured if I try to run like that, I have to work over months in training to build the confidence to get my body running at a faster pace. That works for me :).

Hope you have an awesome week.

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I have been gone for a few weeks traveling out of the country and had no internet – and I come home and you are eating candy again haha! YAY! So glad it was just in time for Halloween!!

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HAHAH YES… I’ve come so far;) It was the perfect timing! I hope you had a blast traveling!!

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I’ve been trying to cut down on my $tarbucks habit, but I LOVE a skinny vanilla latte with extra foam every once in a while.

I usually put my bib on when I head out the door for a race; I try to make it so I’m not carrying/struggling to find somewhere to stow a ton of stuff at the start line!

I think speed can improve from hard work, but there are some people who just start off faster than others. I come from a deeply non-athletic family, and it for a very long time 10 minute miles were all I could do! Over time I brought my times down but it took YEARS. And I get injured so, so easily when i run below 9-minute miles.

I love playing heads up with the younger kids in my family! It’s great for developing descriptive language skills, too!

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In regards to your discussion about natural talent vs. hard work…I wanted to share with you a book I read (listened to) recently and it was all about this topic.

https://www.amazon.com/Grit-Passion-Perseverance-Angela-Duckworth/dp/1501111108/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1509989289&sr=8-1&keywords=grit+book&dpID=51eNdezUTkL&preST=_SY291_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_&dpSrc=srch

I think you will really enjoy listening to or reading this!

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Ordering this NOW. Thank you so much Sara, I can’t wait to read it!

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That’s the best family picture of the silly faces — super cute!!

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Omg Brooke’s hair is so long! I need to try white hot chocolate ASAP!
My speed has gone way downhill over the last year…I blame injuries and for some reason my competitive drive just isn’t there anymore. Running (slowly) comes naturally to me but for some reason as soon as I attempt to throw some speed in there my body protests. I am also doing a lot of BBG workouts so I haven’t been putting as much pressure on my running…I’m happy with my easy pace right now!

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As in anything there are some who have the genetics/natural ability to run and then there are others were have the sheer willpower to do well. I admire those that have the genetic and the determination to be successful!

Hmm, typically its a venti iced upside down coconut milk caramel macchiato (how’s that for a mouthful)…

we love games in our house. my daughter is 5.5 and 3.5 years old and go fish, old maid, candy land, hungry hungry hippos and jenga are all loved. We just got junior monopoly so we are going to give that a go too!

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You just reminded me to order a peppermint latte! I forgot how much I love those!

I always have to have my bib and things laid out the day before, otherwise I feel out of sorts!

My speed has improved drastically. I’ve cut 27 minutes off of my 1/2 PR and 11 minutes off of my full (hopefully even more in December!) I think there is definitely something to be said about running coming from natural talent, but hard work definitely plays a huge part too.

Uno is a good one for littles! We also like to play Yahtzee and Phase 10 once they get a tad older :)

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Re training v talent: It’s a mixture of both, especially in half- and full-marathon. People talented with little discipline couldn’t possibly finish a marathon at a competitive level/time. It just takes more work. Sprinting– 100m, 500, 1500m even, okay. Marathons..? Color me skeptical ;).

Just ran 2:47:37 in the NYCM, injured.. only training and a little talent could get me there!

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I have a 4yr old son and he absolutely loves Candy Land and Operation …Doc McStuffins version ! I am actually surprised how well their little minds grasp the concepts especially of Candy Land! Hope you guys have many fun game night ahead!

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I have significantly improved my running since joining the Army and running my first race in 2014. However, I feel like I’ve been experiencing a sort of yo-yo running ability (like yo-yo dieting), where I will make some improvements, then sort of stagnate or decline, then make a little more improvement, and so on. I’m hoping that cleaning up my diet and adding some strength can get me out of this rut I’ve been in!

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A few games we love to play are Eye Found It (also, disney, so you’ll love it), Candyland, Monopoly Junior, Jenga, Pop the Pig.. We love game night in our fam :)

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Whenever I get sad about my baby getting older too fast, I think about GAME NIGHTS – can’t wait for them, I love board games :)

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Family game night brings back great memories. Trouble is a great game for little ones. My son’s are now 19 and 21, we still tell stories about our game nights, some didn’t always end well, one time I (momma) got sent to bed because I was to cranky and no fun. Haha

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ZINGO! I haven’t read through comments yet, but this game is perfect for younger kids. And if we’re being honest, me and my husband get a bit competitive when playing with the kids. Ha! https://www.amazon.com/Think-Fun-97700-Zingo-Bingo/dp/B01DY818JG/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1510003082&sr=1-1&keywords=zingo&dpID=51hhI23D8qL&preST=_SY300_SL1500_QL50_&dpSrc=srch

And I’m liking that Sunday tradition!

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Hey I just saw this on NPR……………. http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2017/11/06/552885008/baby-you-ve-got-mail-free-books-boost-early-literacy
I don’t have kids, so when I see things like this (or small kids’ clothing on amazon on sale…) I think to send to you but USUALLY don’t. BUT this is education! If it were me, I’d want to know!!

And thanks for rec’ing that Deena Kastor pod!! That’s what made me go out there yesterday even though I got injured ~10 days ago..thought all was lost, and tried my best to recover in time. The pain was tolerable enough, so I just went with it. 80% on 75% days, right??

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p.s.
I suppose the program is limited to only a few places, but it def lets you know what you do for Brooke and Knox with reading is super special!!

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Ohhhhh all the emotions that Shalane was feeling as she went through that banner must have been amazing!! They captured it perfectly. Every time I see that picture or watch it I get all emotional. She represented USA mighty fine yesterday! Proud to be a runner!!
Ok so not a thinking game but Pie in the face is SOOOOO fun! Great to play with a bunch of people!!!!!

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Explicit, but MUST WATCH XD!: https://twitter.com/gordonmack/status/927359668170739712

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Hi Janae (and readers)….
Please be sure to find out what happened after “runmamarun”…. Stress fractures!! Hmm?? I am all about being strong and tough, but gestating a child is hard enough without adding world class speed training into the mix. Yikes. I was skeptical watching this video and even more so after seeing how it all ended for Sarah. BE CAREFUL! Nothing is worth these injuries. Balance in life is super important. A time and a season for everything and being pregnant/postpartum is a season in itself. Be careful.

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HEY ANNIE!! I completely agree with you! That is what I LOVED about this video… when she was talking about how this injury taught her about priorities and helped her to see what was really important (her family)! I think it did a great job showing that there are major risks/consequences involved with how she trained during/right after having a baby. I prefer learning lessons through people that stumble and make mistakes along the way rather than someone that is perfect all of the time!

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During the fall and winter at Starbucks I love their pumpkin spice latte then the gingerbread latte but I get both with double shots of espresso. The rest of the time I like mocha frappachinos and caramel frappachinos but all are just treats for me now instead of daily staples like they used to be, A) way too many calories and B) way too much money.

I put my bib on at the race.

My speed starts improving when I run consistently, but when I slack it drops like a dead weight…..or I guess I should say increases like a lead weight, either way I get slower hahaha

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Highly recommend Outfoxed. It’s like a kids version of Clue. My 5 year old loves it… and, let’s be honest, so do I .

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I’m excited to read through the comments and learn about new games. I’ve got a 2 1/2 and 4 1/2 year old. We have zingo and I recommend it. It’s kind of like a bingo game. And junior skipbo.

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Wig Out is our kids favorite and also Slamwich. Look for kids’ card holders, too. It makes it easier for them to hold cards in their hands!

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I have two little ones too. We love puzzles now that it is dark at 4:30pm! We also like chutes and ladders and connect four.
I was in tears too watching the end of the NYC, always wondering what is going through their minds as they cross the finish line.

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When do you put your race bib on your shirt for a race? The night before, the morning of, at the race, on the bus?

Night before if I have to get the bib prior or morning of race if I pick up bib then.

How has your speed improved since you first started running (brag today!!). How much of running/speed is natural talent and how much of it comes from training/hard work? What’s your story with this?

I’ve brought down my times a min of two. I think running speed is 60% is natural talent and 40% is hard/smart work (figuring out what work works for you)

We need game recommendations! Any good recommendations of games we can play with two younger kids?

Chutes and ladders

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OMG just saw that you recommended my episode with Deena here! Thank you so much for sharing that with your readers. And hey CONGRATULATIONS on baby SKYE! I hope you guys are doing wonderful!!

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