1- Time disorientation!
I am super time disoriented right now! We took an evening flight (~6p – 12:30a which was 9:30p Seattle time) and when we crashed into bed it was something like 2a eastern. Somehow I slept until 7a here (10a at home?!) and right now I am basically unsure of where I am and what time it is. Not to mention the shock of going from FL sun and 80 degree days to PNW fall which is very cold from my standpoint.
It was an easy flight though and my first time flying Alaska Airlines – I am now a fan!
And, not complaining about any of the above – this is a fun adventure and I feel really lucky to be able to do it. (We are here for my husband’s college BFF’s son’s bar mitzvah!).
2- Workout juggling
Do you juggle your workouts when you travel? I did my 10 mi long run yesterday knowing it would be hard to get in this weekend. I actually think weekday longer runs make some sense for me now that I am part time. Thursday is pretty ideal because Josh takes the kids to school that morning and if I leave the whole routine to him that day I could still finish relatively early. On weekends when I run long sometimes I struggle with lower energy during the day but this is less important on a random Thursday! Things to ponder.
3- Winter gear
I am still totally going to the Patagonia store (so thank you for the nano puff vs micro puff recs). Shout out to Beth who has some great ski gear related posts on her site, including this one! I remember growing up that skiing while comfortable vs skiing while cold/wet were two entirely different experiences so I really want to make sure we are prepared for our trip.
4- In flight entertainment
I finished my book (On Rotation by Shirlene Obuobi — fun romance novel starring a medical student doing her clinical rotations!) and then watched 4 episodes of The Good Place before falling asleep. The latter was available on Alaska AIr’s free entertainment and I have to say, I WAS ENTERTAINED. Now I want to watch it all (also Handmaid’s Tale, also White Lotus, also read all the books – sigh).
5- Podcast rec for the runners:
Loved listening to Ali on the Run interview Meghann Featherstun. This made me want to eat more carbs. Umm, bring on the bagels? Would that seriously help me run faster? Maybe?
(I am not afraid of carbs whatsoever but I do feel like my favorite macronutrient is FAT and when I’ve done tracking on rare occasions, I definitely do not hit the 55% carbs she recommends. Mostly because I’m too busy eating peanut butter and cheese . . .)
17 Comments
YES to the Good Place! It only gets better, please don’t stop now (and also don’t google it!!!)
Welcome to Seattle! It’s definitely cold and rainy here right now, but we are all so thankful to have the rain after a long, dry, smoky summer.
Oh my goodness the smoke was horrible and getting well over 80 degrees in October was just bizarre. I’m very grateful the rains finally came!
Welcome Sarah! Hope you have a good time!
In my opinion, The Good Place is one of the best TV series ever!
If you get a chance, check out the library (weird shapped building in your view pic). They have an audio tour via your phone. It’s a super weird but cool building!
https://www.spl.org/hours-and-locations/central-library/central-library-highlights/central-library-tours
Omg cool!!!
Brooke I was thinking the same thing when I saw Sarah’s picture! I love that library!
Ditto for The Good Place!! I think it’s especially good for fall/winter. One of the best shows I’ve seen in a long time. It’s funny, it has heart, it’s just awesome.
As far as fueling for running (and life in general), I think we are all pretty different and it’s worth experimenting but I always get annoyed when people say things like “this worked for me so it will 100% work for you.”
Meghann is my guru. Following her advice has made an enormous difference in my running – especially during the summer. I don’t track my “regular” eating in detail, but I have started spending a lot of time planning out my nutrition the night before, the morning of, during, and right after my hard workouts. And I do track my carbs during my carb load to make sure I’m hitting my goal numbers.
I used to way underfuel – especially for my long runs – and the difference in how I feel (especially at the end of my run and afterward) is night and day. I used to start fasted, drink only water, and eat just one or two gels). Now, during a hard run (long or with speed work), I have a high-carb meal the night before, hyper-hydrate with Liquid IV, have about 50g of carbs when I get up, take a gel every 30 minutes, drink Skratch the whole time, and then have a protein-carb drink when I’m done. It sounds like a ton, but it keeps me going strong the whole way.
I’m not sure eating a bagel before an easy 4-miler would make a difference, but taking a caffeinated gel or brining some Skratch along during a longer tempo run probably would.
I have started to do caffeinated skratch before speed workouts and it definitely helps. Going to start paying more attention to these other details!
A second endorsement for The Good Place. I am just finishing it for the second time with my husband and teenage son (their first time watching it) and it is great. It also sparks lots of conversations with the teen which is so interesting. And yes, don’t Google it!
Enjoy your time in Seattle! That is such a fun city! I love the PNW.
I am starting to travel more for work and I try to do some sort of workout if I am not feeling exhausted. If I know the city, I will run outside – like in Chicago I would for sure run (although only if it’s light out – if I am not familiar with the city, running in the dark does not feel safe). Otherwise I will do a strength training workout in the hotel gym. I have a kind of funny story about a run that went wrong in Seattle. I was training for a marathon in 2012, and at that time I did not run with my phone. I headed out with a crappy hotel map and got HORRIBLY lost – I took a wrong turn on Union Lake and ended up so far away. Plus I fell during the run. I would see people on the run and ask how to get back to the Queen Anne area and multiple people said – “on foot??” I ended up giving up around 9 miles (was supposed to be an 8 mile loop) and went into a restaurant and had them call a cab for me. I had no money on me and this was pre-uber or anything like that. But luckily the cab driver let me go up to my room to get money. I learned my lesson to not run without a phone, especially in a city I don’t know well! I was so far from my hotel that we got on a freeway to get back to the hotel!
Omg!!!!!!! Crazy! I am sticking to hotel gym this time 🙂 sometimes I’ve done fun outdoor routes but since time is limited this time I’m keeping it simple!
Working with a sports dietician during my last training cycle was an incredible game-changer! Very highly recommend it. (Definitely get someone used to working with athletes.)
Welcome to Seattle. Just moved here in July and still exploring. After a long summer with a smokey end, fall is definitely here. Enjoy your visit. I also am a new fan of Alaska Airlines as I had many flights with them during the move. You can check out the place holder option at TSA in the airport on the way home. It can be busy at peak times, which are different from the east coast due to all the red eyes.
Ooh I need to look into this! We are not red eying it this time and I’m happy about that!!
Another long-time reader here who also lives in Seattle. Welcome! Have a wonderful visit!