Strugglefest, Never Again & My Levitate 2 Review!

Let’s rewind to Tuesday night real quick…

Andrew and my brother-in-law sent my sister and I out to go on a date together.   After Tuesday night we decided this needs to be a weekly habit.

My sister told me to meet her at a Vietnamese restaurant in our area and when I arrived she was sitting there with the most heavenly sandwiches for us to eat.  I’m not sure what was actually in the sandwich but I always trust my sister’s opinion about everything because as you can tell, she knows what is going on in life:

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Then we walked across the parking lot and roamed around Trader Joe’s (yes, I went there a total of two times on Tuesday;).

Without children.  A completely different experience.

We were in a mango mood.  These gummy mangos are my sister’s #1 favorite candy.  I cannot see them without thinking about her.

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We also went to see a movie.  Then I came home and Knox was back and they were quite hyper (I’m guessing because of the sour patch kids in the below picture.

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I put my clothes out every night for my run the next day <— It makes getting out the door to run so much easier.  Andrew will leave me notes on my running clothes some mornings and it is the absolute best.  He is a thoughtful one.

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I went out later than normal and at 4 miles Skye woke up so I picked her up to finish my run in the jogging stroller (Andrew was painting so I wanted to take her with me:).

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The entire run was a strugglefest for me.  Running has felt pretty good lately but yesterday was the opposite and that is a-okay.  The good runs wouldn’t feel as good as they do without these strugglefest runs humbling us.  I have 8 x 1000m repeats to get in today and they are going to be hard but we love to embrace the suck with our running so it is going to go great.  Also, pushing the jogging stroller is just hard so my speed today will feel easy compared to that (kind of).

8.1 miles @ 8:40 average.

I love what Jennifer said on yesterday’s post because I am the same way… SO MANY CONVERSATIONS WITH MYSELF.

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These two slept in until 9 yesterday morning.  School starts again soon so this transition to getting up early again will be fun for everyone involved.

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I used to eat a salad a day but they haven’t been very exciting to me lately.  Yesterday a steak salad sounded amazing… and it was.  Steak (courtesy of a bbq we had a few nights ago), guac, peppers, spinach and pico.  This was lunch and then for dinner we had pancakes.

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I have really exciting news.  I will never have to unload the dishwasher again (while I have children living in the home;).  It may have taken 47 minutes to teach them exactly where everything goes but now they know how to unload the entire thing (they used to just do part of it).  I’ll probably be the supervisor for a little while but I’m just really thrilled about this.

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We made it to the splash pad for a bit yesterday too!

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In other news… I told Andrew I want this for the combination of my next 10 birthdays and Christmas presents.   $549… is pebble ice that amazing to have to get a second job or should I keep taking advantage of 7-11’s pebble ice machines?  Or maybe I just need to remember that it is fall/winter again soon and I will be drinking hot chocolate for 7 months straight and have no desire for ice.

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I told you this last week but I am still feeling the same way—>  The Levitates 2s are actually my favorite pair of running shoes ever.  For a long time the PureFlows were my #1 obsession and then the Launch.  Once I got my hands on my first pair of Levitates I was sold.  I try to switch up my running shoes throughout the week to strengthen my feet but it is so hard to not just wear these every day.  I was nervous with how I would feel about the Levitate 2 but I’m happy to report… I think they are even better than the first version.

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The Levitate 2 are a neutral shoe and come in at 9.9oz (for the woman’s shoe).  The Levitate 2 are all about ENERGIZING which I feel each time that I wear them (just like the first Levitate)—>  Springy= my favorite way to describe them.  From Brooks, “DNA AMP technology gives back what you put in.” The DNA AMP is in the midsole of the shoe and I definitely feel like when your foot hits the ground it does give you a bit of a bounces back up again.  The bounce in these (and the first Levitates) are different than any other running shoes I have ever tried… and I have tried a lot.

The biggest changes in the 2s are in the top part of the shoe (but I’m also going to talk about some of the things that the Levitate and Levitates both have).  The upper of the Levitate 2 is made of Fit Knit which I think makes the shoe so comfortable, flexible and it fits so well to the way my foot is shaped and how it moves throughout the stride.  This upper also makes the shoe very breathable (wahoo for the lack of sweaty feet) and just molds nicely to my feet.  It’s hard for me to wear a stiff upper after loving this Fit Knit.

Something I love about the Levitate 2 is the Fit Knit heal collar wrap that they added.  This wrap makes it feel like you are putting on a sock when you put on the shoe which I think is super comforable and gives you a secure fit.  The heel tab (soft foam wrapped in faux-suede) is also new which I love in the back.  They put that there to help protect your achilles from irritation and it just gives so much comfort to that area… I don’t think blisters are possible with a back like this.  The collar wrap and heel tab do come up a bit higher than my normal running shoes so that did take a few miles to get used to that difference.  I haven’t tried running sockless with these shoes but I think that you totally could with the heel tab back there keeping you extra comfortable.

Oh and I love how the lace comes up through the heal collar (rather than normal second eyelet at the top of a normal running shoe) which I feel like makes my foot feel even more secure in the shoe (plus I like the looks of it).

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The outsole has an arrow point on the bottom which helps to guide your foot from heel to toe.  This can help to make your run feel smoother and more efficient for me because I have a problem with pointing my feet out during the run.  It has great traction on the bottom too!

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Added bonus, I think they are beautiful.  I sat and stared at them for five minutes when I first opened the box.  I have named these beauties as ‘the shoes that are going to get me really fast for St. George Marathon 2018.’

BUT I am not sure I want to wear them for the actual marathon.  I am wanting something a bit lighter to race in and I wish my feet could handle the Hyperions for anything longer than a track workout or 5k because they make me feel extra fast but that isn’t really a possibility for the marathon.  I am going to try out the Brooks Ricochet soon and I think they might be my golden ticket… they are like a combo of the Levitates and Launch so they are lighter but still give you that energy and bounce that I crave from the Levitate.  Maybe I will use the Levitate 2s for the marathon (SUCH HARD LIFE DECISIONS;), I will continue trying different shoes for tempo paces and long runs to get a better idea what I want for those 26.2 miles in 65 days.

Overall, they are my favorite to use for long runs, tempoish miles and days that I NEED some bounce in my step.  If you loved the first Levitate, the base of the shoe feels just like the first one but I LOVE all of the improvements that were made in the upper of the 2s.

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Who has tried the Levitate, what have your thoughts been?  I would love to hear the evolution of your favorite runnings shoes… what were your first favorites and favorites since then?

Marathon runners—>  What is your goto shoe for the actual marathon?  What do you need for that many miles?

Do you get your clothes out the night before your workout?  What things do you do to make it easier to go workout in the morning?

Anyone have an August birthday?  Anyone in your family with an August birthday?

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69 comments

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I haven’t tried the Levitates yet, but plan to get some soon! I ran in Adidas in high school and a pair of Nikes someone gave me when I first started running again about 10 years ago, but I know which shoes work best for me now. Brooks and Saucony are the best fits for me, and I really love the Brooks Launch and the Guide (Saucony).

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Let me know what you think when you try the Levitates! So glad you have two shoes that you love so much! Have an amazing day Loribeth!

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Way to go, big kids, with your dishwasher skills! Game changer :D

The Levitate 2 looks very tempting, though I don’t know how I would feel about a higher drop (I’ve been in 4mm for years). My original favorite was an Adidas shoe that had a sock liner, but I think it was neoprene? IDK, it was umpty-million years ago, LOL!

For my last few marathons (several years ago now), I really liked the Pure Connect. I was very bummed when they stopped making those. That hug-type arch support with a light weight was a great combo.

I often wear workout clothes (sports bra and capris) under a dress for work, then change out the dress for a tank top at home–voila!

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Oh yes that would probably feel way different for you Corey! I MISS the Pure Connect too… maybe someday they will bring them back! Okay, that is brilliant… great idea! Have a wonderful day!

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I love that Andrew leaves you little notes—that’s so sweet!

I don’t really have a set thing I do to get myself up and running (literally) in the mornings, other than telling myself “get up, girl. Stop being lazy. You’ll feel better after your run.”

Hope you have a great day, Janae! Go OWN those repeat 1000s!!!!

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Gotta love those conversations we have with ourselves! Thanks Natalie and I hope your Thursday is a great one too!

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My go to shoe is Adidas supernova Glide, sorry Adidas girl here. No I don’t put my clothes out the night before, in the mornings I first check the temps because it’s winter and although it’s not as cold as where you are in winter, I AM COLD. Some days I runs in 3 sweaters and a jacket. My mom and brother’s birthdays are in August 26th and 31st. ps Congrates on a great half marathon, good job!!! pps I joined a group of runners that are super fast for me and I started doing speed AND they have car tyres attached to a rope and a belt and we do hills with that, tied around our waists, it is a killer, but I think it’s going to make me strong!!

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Oh that is a good idea to check the weather first. Ummmmm three sweaters and a jacket… ahhhhh! Have some hot chocolate today! Oh thank you so much and I love that you joined that group! I can’t even imagine running up a hill and pulling up a tire! WOW. You are my hero!

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My first Brooks love was the Brooks OC – that was in 1998! I remember because I hurt my IT band and I went to a dedicated shoe store and they said to throw away my current running shoes and get these Brooks ones for my gait. I got every version of that shoe until it was discontinued. When I was running marathons, I loved the Brooks Pure Flow – up until version 2 or 3. And then they changed them too much (although it is back to more like the original).
I bought the first Levitate and they are too narrow for me. I feel like Brooks shoes are narrower these days and I’m not sure why! It’s the toe box – the rest is okay. Even the Launch are too narrow – my foot feels cramped. I am back to loving Nikes – go Andrew :)

My sister’s birthday is August 16th. We are both Leos (I’m not actually into astrology but my birthday is July 26th (I turned 40 – ah!) and it’s cool how our birthdays are in different months but we share that sign commonality)). We are seven years apart in age an the older we’ve gotten, the closer we’ve become. What is the day of your birthday again? I want to say 8th or 9th but could be making that up :)

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I never tried the Brooks OC!! You’ve been a Brooks lover longer than I have! I am like you with the PureFlow, so glad they are back to more of the original with those. BOOO to them being too narrow, I will have to ask them about that. I MISSED YOUR BIRTHDAY!!! Amanda… HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I hope your day was perfect and that your 40th year of life is an amazing one. Me and my sis are seven years apart too, the best! My bday is 2/13 but Brooks is 8/15 so right by your sister’s. Have a wonderful day girl!

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I’ve been injured forever w an ankle that just won’t heel, but have gone back and forth between ASICS and Brooks. I like the ASICS gel lines. Apparently chasing after toddlers isn’t great for injury recovery.

I do! August 15! You picked a good day to give birth. ;)

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Heal*

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Sara, I am so so sorry about your ankle injury. That is so hard and yeah… it is definitely rough to try to recover for an injury as a mom of little ones. HAPPY ALMOST BDAY… I love your bday and I hope this year is a great one!

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Your lunch pics made me hungry! I love Vietnamese food, especially banh mi. =)

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Well, after our meal I am a HUGE fan of Vietnamese food, I will have to try that next. Thanks Emily and I hope your day is an amazing one!

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I wish I could run in Brooks! I over-pronate so I need more stability in my shoe, so I’ve been using Asics gt-2000s for marathons the past few years, but they changed the most recent model a little too much so I think I’m back to the drawing board. I’m intrigued about trying different shoes for shorter runs vs longer runs after reading what you do! Brooks definitely wins the design contest, I’m always so jealous of how they look haha. This week has been rough for my running, it’s be 75 degrees at 5:30am and ridiculously humid every morning. The miles go slow and I am so drenched afterward, but I always feel so much better after so that’s what keeps getting me up at 4:45. So annoying how that happens ;) My boyfriend’s birthday is Saturday so we’ll be celebrating all weekend! Hope you kill those 1000s today, I’ve been loving your running perspective recently!!

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Have you thought about the Adrenaline or the Ravenna–the two stability shoes that Brooks makes for over-pronators? Depending on your degree of over-pronation, you might find the guiderail in the adrenalines totally great or a bit aggressive. They’re comfy shoes to wear, and as long as you don’t get an older version (esp the 17s or 16s) on the cheap on some online retailer–yeah, pay full price for the 18s, it’s worth it–it might be a good way to wear Brooks even as an over-pronator…

(And as for Asics–I have some friends who swear by them and others who have been disappointed as year after year it seems like the brand just cuts their shoes more and more narrow and the material used in the gel midsole seems somehow…cheaper? Like it flattens out more easily…)

(And by the way my name is also Stephanie! Hi!)

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75 degrees at 5:30 in the morning… and humidity. OUCH. When fall hits you are going to be amazed by how strong you are after training in these conditions. You are strong. Enjoy all of the celebrating this weekend and thank you so much! It went really well. Please keep me updated with how your training goes Stephanie!

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Hi Stephanie! I thought I’d chime in here, too, to say that I am an over pronater, as well, and I love the Brooks Ravennas!! I just bought them a few weeks ago and wore them to run a half last weekend, and they were awesome. I’ve been wearing ASICS that I was told were the best for over-pronating, but there is no comparison, the Ravennas feel so much better. Anyway, everyone’s feet are different and different shoes work better for some than others, but they might be worth a try for you! ? Good luck!!

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Oooh thanks so much for the advice everyone!! I’m definitely going to check those out, I have been getting frustrated with how much Asics change their shoes so much so definitely in need of something different! You guys are awesome, hope you have a great rest of the week!!

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I am a Pure Flow / Launch girl. I wore the launch for my first marathon and BQd, so they will always hold a special place in my heart. I have the Levitates but they are just too heavy/a tad too much shoe for me. I feel like they almost weigh me down but I do like them for walking/super easy runs.

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Oh that is awesome… first marathon and a BQ!! GO MALLORY!! Bummer that the Levitates aren’t for you with your running but I agree, the Launch have a special place in my heart too! Have a beautiful day Mallory!

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Totally agree with you about the Levitates. I feel like they were too heavy & clunky for me. I love the launch, they are my go to!

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For morning runs I don’t give myself time to think — I just go on autopilot. Alarm, out of bed, dressed, out the door. If I stop for a second to think…I end up staying in bed! I need to go on a sister date ASAP, that looks like so much fun!

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Oh I like that… autopilot! I am the same way and I don’t really start thinking about anything until the warm-up is over ha. I hope you get a sister date soon! Thanks Andrea and have an amazing Thursday!

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Oh man … 8 X 1000! I hope you are out there crushing it. I’ve been running in Brooks for quite a while. I love the Launch and the Levitates the most currently (I don’t have the 2s yet), but I also like the PureFlow and PureCadence. I usually do one of those for the marathon. My birthday is August 10th and I’m pumped because we’re going to be in Colorado for a Ragnar Relay! The race is actually on my birthday. How awesome was it of them to plan that for me :)

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THANKS SAM!! It was hard but it is done! We have the same shoe loves… that makes me very happy! 8 days until your bday and the Colorado Ragnar, that is the best way to celebrate and how thoughtful of them to do that. Have a wonderful day Sam!

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I will have to check out the Levitates. I wore the Pure Flows for years after you raved about them and I loved them but then I felt like the last few updates to them made them stiff and just not for me anymore. So I have switched to Saucony Kinvaras. Its been a while since I ran a whole marathon but I did wear Pure Flows for it and kind of regretted it. I needed a bit more cushioning for that many miles. But its been a struggle to find a good cushioning shoe that doesn’t give me blisters. And I totally get my running clothes out the night before. Otherwise who knows what I would leave the house in at 5am when I go run, my brain is not usually fully functional yet.

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Good luck on finding the right shoe for you now with more cushioning without the blisters problem! YES–> my brain isn’t functioning yet either (and sometimes it isn’t until into the workout which is probably a good thing). Enjoy your Thursday Corrinne and I love hearing from you!

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I need to get back into the habit of putting my running clothes out at night so that everything’s ready to go early in the morning. I’m sure that when everyone in my house is back in school in a couple weeks, that will be much easier.
I have a high arch and over pronate a little, so I can’t wear neutral shoes. So, I have discovered that Saucony’s are typically my go to shoe for the marathon. I have tried a couple of Brooks that are good for my feet for shorter distances, and they’re always such pretty colors! But, if you have any recommendations, I’d love to hear them ?
My brother and brother-in-law both have August birthdays, and our 24th anniversary is this Sunday!
Have a great Thursday!

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HAPPY 24th anniversary on Sunday—> That is AWESOME! Have you tried out the Adrenaline? A few of my friends are overpronaters and they love the Adrenaline. Might be worth a try (and the latest Adrenalines are so cute;)! I hope you get to enjoy this month big time!

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Thank you Janae :) I will definitely take a look at the Adrenalines.
Again, thanks for always keeping us all informed and inspired! :)

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My “little” guy turns 9 this month on the 29th. Where does the time go?

I have to put out EVERYTHING the night before in a pile. It has to include my hair tie, hat, nutrition…everything! Because my brain just isn’t in that mode first thing in the morning!

Great review! Thanks!

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9 months–> SERIOUSLY, how is it going by so fast? Pregnancy felt like an eternity but Skye’s first year is cruising by too fast! Oh I love that the pile is your thing… it makes the morning and getting out so much easier. I hope your Thursday with your little boy is a great one!

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I always get my stuff together the night before!

I have to laugh at the dishwasher thing…my son is 11 and his job is to unload the dishwasher…and I am constantly finding things in places they don’t belong. Its actually pretty funny, unless i’m looking for something specific and cant find it. I try to show him where things go, but since i am not usually home when he unloads….you are ahead of me and my son is way older!! Good job!

I feel you on the tough runs. I’m single parenting this week and I had 10 on the treadmill this morning. I rented “Spirit of the Marathon” to encourage me. And it was entertaining, but still didn’t totally distract me from the fact that I was on a treadmill :) I’m sue you will knock out those 1000m repeats!!

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Hahaha yes… I have a feeling that is going to happen over here too:) TEN ON THE TREADMILL–> you are hardcore Meg! Good call on renting that movie but I feel you right now, the treadmill feels 100 times harder. Good luck the rest of the week while your husband is gone.

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I always get my running clothes out the day before. I want to make it as easy as possible to get out the door that early. There’s way less time wasted on what to wear that way.

My oldest’s birthday is today, she’s 7!! And mine is the 27th! (I’ll turn 30…not sure how I feel about that haha)

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Happy birthday to your son… I hope you get to do some fun things today. HAPPY birthday this month ahhhh! Oh don’t worry about turning 30, so far my thirties are a million times happier than my twenties!

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Hello Janae!

It’s been a minute or two since I last commented. Sorry–I am on vacation this week (Tom and I are slummin’ it at the beach since we have a free place to stay and no money to go anywhere else…), and before here I had a chaotic couple of weeks. :) BUT–that said–I *loved* reading about your 5K experience and I smiled REALLY BIG reading your sub-90 half-marathon last weekend. Way to go!!!!!!!

I think the Levitate 2s are gorgeous gorgeous shoes. I tried them on at my running store gig, and at some point–when money feels a bit freer–I might get a pair. I love the way they feel, sort of like running on a trampoline. And I think the breathability of that upper is dynomite (and it’s also…aesthetically pleasing?!?!?!?). The one thing about them that has me nervous is one of their improvements–that faux-sueded heel pad. I love the consideration for something to minimize the chance of blisters, but at the same time I worry about sweat rubbing away the faux-suede and leaving behind a weird gummy, crumbly mess. Does this make sense? I can picture it in my head but I can’t totally find the words. Sigh–my English PhD didn’t prepare me for this feeling. ;)

I love that you got to go on a mid-week date with your sister! I wish I had a sister to go on mid-week dates with!

And I understand Trader Joe’s as an experience with or without kids. I mean, I don’t have kids, but when I go in there (or in all honesty ANY store that I want to go into) with TOm in tow, he’s like my shadow. And I worry that he is bored. But when I can go into TJ’s or Whole Foods or a bookstore or even freaking Macy’s for crying out loud on my own, I have space to look and to discover all the things that are there. It’s quite nice!

When you go to TJ’s again, some things you need in your life: Mixed Nut Butter, the honey sesame covered cashews & almonds, the chocolate chip cookie skillet in the frozen desserts aisle, the cauliflower gnocchi (toss it with roasted chicken, cut up buffalo mozzarella, cut up roasted sweet potatoes, and a couple healthy spoonfuls of pesto and it’s the best messy bowl of a dinner! I promise!), and–from right by the cash registers–the little three-pack of dark chocolate bars. They’re perfect to keep in your freezer, and half of a dark chocolate bar with a spoonful of mixed nut butter (or the raw almond butter!) plopped on top makes a yummy middle of the afternoon pick-me-up!!!

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STEPHANIE!! It is so good to hear from you! I am so happy that you and Tom got to get away for a bit and you get to relax after some crazy weeks! That totally makes sense about the heel pad, I will keep you updated with what happens with mine but so far I haven’t noticed this happening! Hahah I totally understand, I always worry that Andrew is bored at TJ’s too but I know my sister could never get bored there so it was really nice. I hope you get a solo bookstore/tj’s/Whole Foods/Macy’s trip soon:) THANK YOU FOR THE list of things to get at TJ’s and that dinner sounds perfect! Putting it on my notes in my phone, thank you! Enjoy the rest of your stay!

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OMG girlfriend I had to hop on here and tell you that this afternoon I was TOTALLY thinking about you (before I even read email and saw that you commented on my comment). You see, Tom and I went to this outlet center not too far from our beach condo…and there is a STANCE outlet!!! So I totally hooked myself and Tom up with new athletic socks (because I don’t have enough already…ha ha!!!) since there was a ‘Buy 4, Get 2’ deal going on. 6 pairs of Stance socks with tax for $38…what?!?!?!? Totally awesome!

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Maybe a pebble ice cube tray?

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That is a brilliant idea. THANKS AMY!

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When my son was little, I moved all of the every day dishes to lower cabinets. They were easier for him to reach to set the table and put dishes away without climbing and potentially breaking anything. There was very few items he couldn’t reach that we used and it was amazing how much it changed the dinner dynamic.

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Oh that is a really great idea! I should do that… thanks Tamara! It really is amazing to get our kids involved in helping out around the house (I think they really like it too:)! Have a beautiful day and thanks for the idea!

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I have worn Brooks Green silence, brooks pure flow and Asics for the marathon. Funnily enough, I don’t often wear these shoes now. I have never worn the Levitate – my first pair of running shoes were the Nike Air pegasus (and then I was in love with the Asics gel landreth for a while).

I do tend to lay out my clothes the night before for a race – not so much for a morning run. If it is a big weekend adventure, I will fill my water bottles, lay out the food etc so we can just wake up and go early in the morning.

I have an August birthday! – It is my birthday on Sunday (Aug. 5).

Have a great day! And I can appreciate the runs that sometimes don’t go so well.

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY ON SUNDAY!!! I will eat a cupcake to celebrate you:) Thanks Kristine and your weekend adventuring and racing always inspires me! I hope you get in a really great adventure on your bday.

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Did you see this? It’s her world; we just live in it.

https://www.runnersworld.com/news/a22577621/cynthia-arnold-triple-stroller-pushing-record-half-marathon/

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Yes… absolutely AMAZING and I am so inspired by her. I die pushing just Skye! I hope your day is an amazing one CB!

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I ran all my marathons in Brooks Ravennas – I can get away with a neutral shoe on shorter runs but for the marathon distance I need a bit of stability since my form kind of falls apart when I’m tired. They have enough cushion to keep my feet happy but still have a nice light feel. I haven’t run in the Ravenna 9’s yet but I’ve been eyeing them up and see they come in at 8.1 oz so pretty light for a stability shoe.

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Oh I am so happy that the Ravenna has been so great for you! WOW, I didn’t know they were that light… that is perfect! Let me know when you try the 9’s and what you think. Have an awesome day Steph!

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Me, too! I actually do really great with a neutral shoe for my shorter week day miles (Brooks Ghost is my favorite) but for a marathon I need a tad more support for the sloppy, tired end miles. I’ve worn the ASICS GT 2000 series for 10+ years for marathons (even before they got the new 2000 X numbering system) but the 2000 5s and 2000 6s…I just can’t. Too narrow, too short. :( It’s been a struggle finding another shoe that has that level of forefoot padding with mild support so it’s great to hear the Ravenna is working for you. I’m trying the Adrenalines next but if they don’t work, Ravenna is next in line.

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Did you go to Oh Mai?? I freaking love that place. It’s so nice to not have to drive to SLC anymore to have to go there!

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IT WAS AMAZING. Let’s go asap. Please.

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Hi Janae! I was coming here to ask you a question about running shoes and this post is like you were reading my mind! I am training to run my first marathon in November (I’m doing NYC…go big or go home, right?) and I’m not sure what to do for shoes. I am currently running in the Launch 5 and they’re ok, but not my favorite shoe ever. I’d have to say my favorite shoe of all time is the Brooks PureCadence 2, which I obviously can’t get any longer – I hated the PureCadence 3 and have been scared to try any of the PureCadence since. There are a lot of good reviews for the PureCadence 7 and I’ve been thinking of getting those, however I’m not sure if they are enough shoe for a marathon? Would I be able to train using the Launch and PureCadence and use the Launch for the race? Should I just go for the Levitate even though I hate heavy shoes? What do I do?!?

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I am so so excited for your first marathon and NYCM–> The best! Oh so many hard questions… I totally understand the dilemma that you are in right now. I personally love the Levitate and hate heavy shoes too so I think they are great (Brooks does a 30 day exchange policy if you aren’t loving them) but then I think the Launch are a good choice for a marathon too. I love the PureCadence 7s and wore them for my last half but I’m not sure if I want to do a marathon in them (and just use them for the speed training). I think your best bet is to experiment on your long runs with different shoes that you might want to try! Good luck and please keep me updated on everything Jamie!

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Thanks Janae! I appreciate your thoughtful reply!

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Why struggle with double knotting, when we can lock laces? Lock laces has 11,000 reviews – I got mine locally and I think they are ok:

https://www.amazon.com/Lock-Laces-Elastic-Tie-Shoelaces/dp/B00975EAJ6

Not sure if this is on the order of local TJ’s or supervising the dishwasher unload, but it might be close.

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Maybe this for ice:

https://food52.com/blog/16787-the-secret-to-making-soft-crushed-ice-sonic-style

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I ran in Adrenaline’s for 14 years. Brooks changed the last and I had to switch. I tried several shoes for a while and settled with Sauconys. My current favorite are the Saucony Freedoms. They are fairly light but also cushy. They will be the marathon shoes.

For morning runs- I lay out clothes, shoes, watch, and hair ties in a separate room so I don’t wake up my husband. I also put a quick snack on the counter with a water bottle next to my keys so I can get out the door quickly in the morning.

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I haven’t tried a pair of Brooks in years. These days Adidas works best for me and for a marathon my favourite is the Supernova – plenty of bounce and decent forefoot cushioning as I land on the front of my foot.

If I’m running in the morning then I definitely lay out all my kit and anything else I need e.g. hydration tablets to make up a drink so that I can pretty much roll out of bed, put my kit on and head out the door. Much easier that way.

Both my sister and I have August birthdays. This year I have a “Big Birthday” so I’ve been finding plenty of different ways to celebrate (such as the trip to DLP Paris for the half marathon – realising my dream to rub Disney :-) ). My husband did a good job of picking up my “subtle” hints lol!

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The opal ice maker was $100 off on Prime Day. Maybe Black Friday. And you have so much Vietnamese food to explore. That’s a banh mi. They are usually about $3 at an authentic Vietnamese bakery/deli. Try on your next trip to CA.

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August is pretty blah for us around here…no birthdays, special occasions, nothing. Just sitting here, bored, waiting for fall to roll around….
Ok, when you said you took Skye with you because Andrew was painting, my first thought was that he was painting a picture! Like friggin Picaso or something!! I thought, wow, cool! Obviously painting a wall with all your renovations going on….ugh, don’t mind me.
Gosh I wish we had a Trader Joe’s nearby, I’ve NEVER been to one!! Crazy right?!?!! At least I don’t know what I’m missing.
Those shoes are really beautiful!
Sister time is literally the best!!!

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Happy Thursday! I have a question about the sneakers is the part at the top of laces hard or soft? The new Pure Flows are causing me to get a blister at the top of my foot. It’s making me crazy, the old ones were soft now I have to wear long socks or a band aid to cover it. ?
We love Trader Joe’s and we pretty much love everything they sell. Try the lime coconut mints, we are obsessed with them. They are up by the register and they are delicious!!!

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I have had my kids unload utensils and that’s it. Didn’t trust them with breakables and how would they reach? But maybe I should branch out and try it. But now school starts next week and we won’t have morning time to unload before school and that’s when i like to do it so I can load up during the day. Do you guys unload in the morning?

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Love the levitates! I used to be a ghost girl, but these are amazing! And since I have an August birthday, I’ll be getting the 2’s for myself :) I was wondering how the change in the heel tab would be…glad to know it may take a few miles to get used to!

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Ha, speaking of shoes, I just got a happy Brooks delivery yesterday of 3 pairs! I wanted the Cascadia’s that were on sale, and also decided to try the Ghost 11s and the Adrenaline GTS 18s! :D I really like the Launches and ran my first marathon in them, but I feel like I need a little more cushion and possibly support for my long runs. My original thought was to return 1 pair, but I’m kind of a running shoe hoarder haha! An early birthday present for myself ;) I’m excited to try out all three pairs soon!

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I love love love the levitates too and can’t wait to try the 2’s! On my last marathon I debated up til race morning whether to wear my levitates or my Hoka Mach. I chose the hoka’s and I was so happy I did, they are light and fast but still cushiony, we seem to have a similar taste in shoes so you might really like these. Brooks are my number one favorite shoe but hoka’s are definitely my second fave!

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Now that you have had time in your Levitate 2, do yours eat your socks?? Mine are driving me nuts because the sueded Achilles cushion eats my socks down into my shoe and every 3 miles or so, I’m reaching down to hike it back up. I’ve had no less than 12-15 pair of Brooks, including 2 pair of the 1st Levitate and no others have done this. I’m so disappointed.

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