Just Going to Apologize in Advance + Tangents!

10 miles @ 8:14 average and then a walk with the girls.    All three of us have blueish eyes and all three of us cannot look at the camera and smile without a pair of sunglasses on when the sun is out.

We decided to soak up as much sunshine as possible yesterday and today because Mother Nature has other plans for what we should be doing the next week…

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I’m just going to apologize in advance but my content may be a little less exciting than usual (staying home all day and busier now with helping Brooke ((and Knox when he gets back tomorrow)) with their new schedule).  Andrew also told the hospital he would pick up whatever shifts they need on whatever floors they need so it’s just going to take a little time to figure out our new schedules (which I’m sure most of you guys can relate).  I’ll still be here daily to check-in with you guys and if you have any topics that you want me to cover the next few weeks, please let me know!

When I do work, I’ll have Brooke next to me working on her assignments from her teacher.  Her teacher told her she NEEDS to play prodigy 30 minutes a day which pretty much made her life.

Oh and she loves the same computer snacks that I do which is really great.

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I have a bunch of tangents to talk about today!

*I really do think the girls are thankful for everything being cancelled (they obviously can’t comprehend what is really going on) because Andrew and I are getting more and more creative.  Andrew had Brooke paint his toenails the other night which made her so happy.

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*Brooke and I made a goal together to do yoga every morning while she is out of school.  She is much more flexible than I am and YouTube has so many great yoga for kids videos.  It’s been great to start out her day together stretching and since we are doing this together and have no where to be… It will be my most consistent yoga participation ever.

Movement is key over the next few weeks!

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*We made my mom’s lasagna for dinner and it was heavenly.

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*My friend told me last week that my nails remind her of those Cadbury mini eggs ha.

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*Andrew and I pretty much only listen to this song on repeat… why is it so good?!

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*Another picture from last week but I took it to show Brooke how Skye wants to copy every move that she makes.   Brooke was pretty devastated that ballet was cancelled but I found some online classes she can take instead because I sure can’t teach her a thing about dance.

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*A reader sent me a message telling me about the Chicken Dipping Sauce at Walmart and how it tasted identical to Andrew’s beloved Chic-fit-A sauce.  I bought him some for his birthday and he says it tastes exactly the same!

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*I’m sure everyone’s yard work and spring cleaning is going better than ever with the social distancing.

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*I hope you all have a great day and have some good lotion for the 4837 times we are all washing our hands each day!

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Have any tangents for me?!

Would you rather do house work or yard work?  Doing either of them more than ever right now?

Have any topics or posts you want me to cover over the next few weeks?  Its strange to go from blogging about the 50 places we went that day to staying at home all day so let me know what you guys want to talk about!

Brooke and I are doing a cooking class for part of her school today and desperately need links/recipe to the world’s best cookie (or your absolute favorite for us to try)!  Thanks in advance!

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56 comments

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What a crazy time this is, right? Schools are closed here as well, so we’re all at home just like you guys. Andrew, you are awesome and doing such an important job. Keep up the good work!

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I’ve been thinking about you! How much longer until your due date? Keep me updated on how you are doing and thank you, I’m amazed by him too!

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That’s very sweet of you, thanks! My due date is next week!
By the way, I sent you a package about two weeks ago but with flights from Europe to the USA being cancelled, I wonder if it’ll arrive…

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AHH NEXT WEEK!! I am just so happy for you all. I hope you are able to get so much rest. I’m sending love and oh no about the package! Hopefully it will come when this all settles down? You are just the best Sanne and your friendship means a lot to me!

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What a crazy time in our lives! I may have to start doing yoga with my two year old to get her interested in something new now that we’ll be home all the time. Great idea!
If you don’t already own the Magnolia Table cookbook by Joanna Gaines, you should pick that up. The chocolate chip cookie recipe in there is probably the best cookie recipe I’ve ever come across. The cookies don’t go flat and they stay soft and chewy even after they cool. Plus there are a lot of other easy, delicious recipes in there too. Otherwise, look up cowboy cookie recipes. Those are probably my favorite cookie. :) Happy quarantining!

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I would love to hear more about what your days are looking like now and how you are home schooling Brooke with a busy toddler! It’s been somewhat stressful because I don’t know what mood my toddler is going to be in and how much schooling we can do. Thanks for all that you do!

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Oh Camee! I FEEL YOU! This is going to be very interesting! I’m wishing you good luck and in a few more days I’m hoping to have it all figured out and I’ll post about it. Thanks Camee and one little thing… both Brooke and Knox’s teacher have told me that the best thing we can do is read a lot and have them journal so if some days don’t go great because of your toddler, fall back on that!

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This cookie is hands down the best. Don’t underestimate it since it is pretty simple but holy cow. Even if you slightly overbake them (I blame my dog) they are still soft and chewy and seem underbaked. https://maureengetsreal.com/2017/08/06/graham-cracker-chocolate-chip-cookie-recipe/

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Simple is my FAVORITE!! Oh thank you so much, can’t wait! Hahaha your dog comment made me smile:) Enjoy your relaxing day!

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What is prodigy ? :)

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I should have explained that! It’s a math game they play at school online and it is Brooke’s favorite thing ever:) It’s a win-win for her because she loves it and she is getting really good at math. Have the best day Amanda!

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These cookies are great, especially because it has a lot of typical pantry items! https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/peanut-butter-chocolate-chunk-oatmeal-cookies/

Also love these but more ingredients: https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/cake-batter-oreo-cookies/

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I will be making both! THANKS MARIAH! The pictures of the first ones made me drool at 7:19 am. Hope you have a wonderful and relaxing day!

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Check out Sally’s Baking Addiction website for recipes. Everything I’ve ever made of hers has been fantastic!

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You are SO right… she does have the best stuff. Thanks for reminding me about her, can’t wait. Have a beautiful day Kim!

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You should totally do a “tips for skiing with small children” or “taking kiddos to ski resorts!”

We are taking our boys next year (they will be 3.5 and 2.5) and there are not a ton of resources out there that give us an idea of what to expect!

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I would LOVE to do that! Great idea, thanks and I’ll get working on that wahoo!

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I heard a rumor that they will start selling Chic Fil A sauce in stores soon :) Andrew (and I) will be VERY excited about that…now I just hoard packages anytime we go.

I prefer yard work, but it’s much easier for me to get started on house work!

One of my favorite food blogs is Budget Bytes- she has really easy recipes with a small ingredient list! Hope that helps and you have fun :)

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That rumor better be true! Andrew will be thrilled. Teach me to enjoy yard work please:). Can’t wait to check out her blog, that sounds perfect. Have a great day Gretchen!

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Oh, I get it, Chick-fil-A sauce tastes great! And did you and Andrew think about making it yourselves? You know a little bit about me, and I read the ingredients. I’m not saying you have to read the ingredients, too. I don’t have a link for you to show the great tasting options with ingredients your bodies may like and respond to more better. Those options are out there because there are a lot of fans of this sauce. I could go on about bathing in it, and having better quality sauce to soak in, but I won’t.

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Hey Janae!

Really enjoy your blog and the breath of fresh air it brings in these crazy times.

I would like to respectfully disagree with your comment that “it’s only a matter of time” before your household gets the COVID virus. As a fellow healthcare professional like Andrew, and fellow hospital employee, we are doing EVERYTHING in our power to ensure the safer and health of our employees and their families. It absolutely IS NOT inevitable when we take the proper precautions, and we all have been highly trained in said precautions. By casually stating that it’s a mere matter of time in regards to such a serious public health issue undermines the tireless efforts of our nations’s hospitals and employees who work literally around the clock to keep our patients safe.

Thank you so much for your consideration of clarifying for your readers.

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Came here to say this!

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Hey Maria and Alyssa! I cannot thank you enough for pointing this out. It must have been my own anxieties and fear from things I’ve heard coming out. I took it out. I guess I just have this weird feeling for my family that we have to be 100% strict on this issue (ie the kid’s friends thinking we are over the top probably for not doing playdates etc anymore) because Andrew is not working from home and out there more. Thank you for all that you do. I really appreciate you helping me too! Hope you have a beautiful day!

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Bravetart’s skillet chocolate chip cookie recipe made into cookies is the bomb. It’s got Horlicks in it (or another malted milk powder will do) ! Also a big fan of Sally’s Baking Addiction’s oatmeal chocolate chunk cookies… I left out the cinnamon and molasses when I made them, think you’d be fine if you dont have those on hand. Sally’s blog also has a ton of other stuff that looks sooo good.
Hummingbirdhigh’s anytime you need ’em choc chip cookies are good too. They dont require you to cream butter and sugar, which is a plus!

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Just over here drooling as I ready your comment… THANKS for the help!! Hope your Tuesday is a great one:)

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Do you have any running clothes or gear to share since it’s starting to warm up? It was 80 here this weekend!

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Oh I love that idea! It means I need to shop and try some new things:) 80 degrees… HEAVEN! Thanks for the post idea and I hope you are having a great day!

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Check out Jared Ward on the Road to the Olympic Trials podcast- he is amazing as always!!!!!

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Oh my goodness… I listened to it this morning. HE IS SO INSPIRING! I hope you have the best day Jenny!

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My tangent is now is the perfect time to try new things! With gyms closed and social (physical) distancing I’m having to get creative and figure out fun home workouts. Today I did yoga for the first time in YEARS and it was wonderfully painful! My kids were sleeping but my cats joined … they weren’t as fun as I’m sure Brooke was to have by your side!
Chic Fil A will be selling their sauce in stores soon! But in the meantime – I HAVE to try the sauce from Walmart!
Yard work on a warm sunny day > house work any day! My husband and I compete to see who can start the yard work first because neither of want to house work! Ha! I’m sanitizing daily but deep cleaning is still once a week. Last weekend my 6 yr old vacuumed and mopped and LOVED it! I hope his love for it never ever fades! My 9 yr old is learning to do his laundry and my hope is that I can slowly stop doing all the cleaning/laundry because my kids will take over! I’m not holding my breath though :)
We LOVE these cookie bars: https://sofestive.com/amp/2014/05/14/best-chocolate-chip-cookie-bars/
Have a great day!

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Cookies- pinch of yum is a good website! I love their chocolate chip cookies, so easy! Also, I really want to make the sweet potato cookies from Run Fast Eat Slow.

If you keep running you could post about odd or fun things you see on your runs – I legit saw a guy digging for gold in the park on Sunday (at least that is what I told myself, he had a metal detector and was digging in the grass – made my run fun trying to decide what he was finding) (btw postpartum running is feeling better and better, I did two walk runs this past weekend and while challenging it felt so good to be outside (and by myself) for 30-45 mins! Just have to keep stretching my tight hips)

I like that you and Brooke are doing yoga together! When my little one does play time I try to stretch or strength train.
She has shots today, hoping she takes them ok. Her doctor office is doing healthy kids in the am and sick kids in the pm which makes me feel better about taking her out of the house right now.

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I’d love you make a post about coming back from injury and being understanding to yourself and your body.. I’ve been there before but I always make the same mistake being too harsh on myself (both fitness wise and body image). And you could tell us more how and why your nutrition changed over the years. I’m a long time follower and girrrl you used to eat candy a lot! Hugs!

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Hey Hannah! GREAT post ideas… I LOVE them and I’ll get started on this post first! I love it:). Hahaha I really did used to eat so much candy and it’s crazy how I don’t really anymore (I would choose a fresh cookie > candy now)! I hope you are having a beautiful day! THANKS again!

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Thank you for keeping it light and positive!
Tangent: Found this instagram account https://www.instagram.com/p/B9zrviCp2w4/
And could not agree more about everything we are learning from this virus. I think the world needed it right now. I just hope that as this thing runs its course and life returns to normal that we REMEMBER these lessons. Especially this year when we are electing new leaders. This time can change us, it is allowing us the opportunity to really SEE the world for what it is and it is teaching us how to care for it. It is weird and scary, but maybe it will save us in the end.

Also! These cookies have been my go-to for years. Please please make them you will not regret it! https://smittenkitchen.com/2007/12/peanut-butter-cookies/

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Hi Janae! I’m trying to do more yoga and strength training during the time. I also got some support shoes! I went to the running store and they said I was pronating a lot. Hope it helps my knee pain, so far they’re working good!

Don’t worry about your content, I think you’re doing a great job keeping us all upbeat and suggesting ways we could help others the other day. During this time I think what we all need most is just friendship, not new info. I’ve been video calling or normally calling friends at least once a day to stay sane.

Happy Tuesday!

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I really appreciate having blog posts to read, even if there is less in them, just to help me feel more normal. Also the sense of community is important!

Good luck with the kids home from school. I made these cookies over Christmas break this year and loved them:

https://smittenkitchen.com/2018/02/chocolate-peanut-butter-cup-cookies/

They are a little bit of a process which is fun when you have time on your hands. I added in rice crispies to the middle to make it like a buckeye ball and I loved the extra texture!

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Hello,
I love reading your blog. Can you share about your nails. Do you still do them yourself, or are you going somewhere to get them done? I noticed you changed the shape. They look great always.
Thank you.:)

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HEY LAURA!! Once I changed the shape I started only going to the salon again because I don’t know how to do acrylics in the slightest! I’ll probably be taking them off soonish though because I’m guessing the salons will be closed! Thanks Laura and if you live in Utah, I’ll let you know where I go. They are the best. Hope you are having a beautiful day!

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I just wanna say, thank you for continuing to blog daily. I’ve been reading your blog daily since before Brooke was born so having a little part of my life that is still the same during these crazy times has been helpful :)

A blog post that might be fun for each of you guys to do is one of those cheesy surveys that went around in the early 2000’s that had a bunch of random questions like “tacos or ice cream?”. It’d be fun to see the kiddo’s answers too!

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Well, this just made my morning. Thank you Amanda for being my friend over the years! We’ve known each other for a while now. I LOVE THAT IDEA. 100% yes. Thank you, I really appreciate you! Hope your morning is a great one!

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Hi Janae! If you have time, I’d love a round-up post of the types of shoes you wear for the different aspects of your training (i.e. shoe x for speed, shoe y for Burn bootcamp, etc.). I bought my first pair of Brooks based on a description you gave years ago and I would love your take on how each of the different pairs aid your performance. Maybe Brooks could sponsor the post :)

A big THANK YOU to Andrew and all the healthcare workers putting in extra hours during this time!

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You are just the sweetest! Thank you for the thanks to Andrew. I LOVE that post idea, thank you and maybe I could give brooks to do a giveaway with the post too;). SO HAPPY you are a Brooks lover too:). Thanks for the help! Hope you are having a relaxing day!

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I dislike yard work AND house work!! I’m super lazy when it comes to house stuff (always prefer to hire someone rather than do the work myself) but I work really hard outside the home. My husband is super DIY though but he knows by now not to try and get me involved, lol. But If I absolutely HAD to I’d probably choose yard. I feel a bit strange because I’m still working (doctor) while everyone else is at home trying to stay entertained. My wonderful family has been filling in to watch my 4 year old and keep her busy for me. I have the same attitude – I’m almost 100% positive COVID is coming to my house too! Not a matter of if, but when.

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Andrea, thank you SO much for doing what you do to take care of others at this time. We are all so lucky to have people like you. Wish I could help with your little one too. That’s exactly what my brother (who is a doctor also) said… not if, when?! I hope you are staying well and able to get some rest between all of the work. Thanks for checking in!

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When you said that you and Brooke are going to do yoga together every morning while school is closed made me remember a picture you posted of her when she was in infant. I “think” you were doing crunches or bicycles and she was in the foreground with her little legs up in the air like yours. :-)

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OH you have the best memory Debbie! I LOVE that picture so much! Time is just flying by:). Hope you are having a relaxing day!

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How about some of the positives and negatives of your new schedule?

Challenges when Andrew works more?

WIAW……..oldie, but goodie, what I ate Wednesday.

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LOVE all three ideas, thanks Erica!!!!

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My 9 year-old son LOVES Prodigy. I’ve also had him doing the Star Wars Yoga for kids on You Tube for “p.e.” during rainy days. Try Sally’s Baking Addiction. I am an avid baker and all of the many recipes I make from her site are delicious!

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Well I’m feeling humorous right now because of your post today! Should I thank you for not showing Andrew’s feet? I’m thanking you for this post.

Liking the comment about blue eyes and the sun (not humorous). What a sciency comment for Tuesday and St. Patrick’s Day. Oh wait, did you post about Pi day? Now, is it one of your favorite days, or not? If it was, now is it not? I lost track. Oh and for science/ math, how can I play Prodigy? Man! (this is an older phrase, nothing to do with gender)

Your nails, I asked what was up with them the other week. It might have been after you went to bed. So, these look like you put them on, right? Or am I wrong? I NEED to know about these nails, please help me.

If you play with kids and stickers this week, will you let them put stickers on your face for decoration? Will they think it is a beautiful representation of you? Will you take a pic and post it?

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I am actually still at work with students today, although today is our last in-class session until 4/14. My 16-year-old didn’t realize until last night that she wouldn’t be able to go to friend’s houses… Oy poor girl.

I think we may use this time to rip out our kids’ carpet and put down laminate :) we just need to work on borrowing a saw. I would much rather do housework but I may need an excuse to go outside! I love the idea of daily yoga! I have a Peloton and use their app a ton, but now I’ll make sure to have the kids do it with me!

I would love you to post about anything that you do with your kiddos while at home that has been successful :) Also, running! Ha, I will live vicariously through you since I’m currently in a boot.

Also, cookie idea. I recently used your chocolate chip cookie recipe, but I made it with gluten-free flour and I replaced the vanilla with almond extract and it was AMAZING!

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Hi Janae, I would like it if you discussed tips for running at elevation for those of us at sea level who may go on a visit to the mountains!

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Hi Janae!!!!! Keep pushing though, you are amazing!!! Thank you for continuing to share with us!
How is Andrew feeling being in the medical field and what precautions are you guys taking at home right now?
I know I am in healthcare and unfortunately, I do not have the option to not go to work. We are washing our hands until they are raw, disinfecting like crazy and I take off my scrubs and shower immediately. Also, we are drinking bone broth, taking our multi vitamins, elderberry, essential oils and using antibacterial in between it all!!! But at the end of the day, we are praying over our homes and praying that the blood Jesus covers and protects us and our families!
All the gyms are closed so I took my run outside and enjoyed the beautiful weather!
Stay strong!

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I love doing yoga from home.Peloton has thousands of classes, and they’re offering a FREE 90 day membership right now while everyone’s stuck at home. SO great!

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Hi! First, thank you to Andrew and all health care workers, and thank you for keeping your kids safe and educated at home when schools are closed.

I would love to see a blog post on maintaining running when races are cancelled. Like many of us, I had a half marathon cancelled last weekend. I don’t want to lose the fitness I built, but also don’t think I should stick to a strict training plan and over do it. Any tips for running maintenance or workouts we can do in the meantime would be great! Thank you for considering!

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Hi Janae,
I love your blog so please keep going! I would love a post on how to adapt your running schedule when your goals are postponed. I was due to run two marathons (Paris and Edinburgh) with the aim of achieving a BQ but they have both been postponed to the autumn. I am a little lost about how to adapt my training until then. I worry that I would lose my fitness and speed if I scale back the mileage/intensity but at the same time, keeping up with the high mileage is hard on my body. Any guidance would be hugely appreciated!
xx

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