I don't think I had ever used fresh cranberries in a recipe in my life until I made this cake. They intimidated me! But I had no idea that they aren't a complicated ingredient--you don't have to do anything special to them.
This cake is SO GOOD and the perfect dish to share at a holiday party. It's sweet, but not like the typical cake we're used to. The flavor reminds me a bit of shortbread (only the texture is soft and a bit spongy, with fresh tart cranberries and a subtle orange flavor throughout). This cake is actually great for breakfast with tea or coffee, too.
This recipe is a modified version of a recipe called "Cranberry Christmas Cake"--my mom introduced me to it. That original version is amazing as well, but I don't think anything goes better with cranberries than orange, and so I had to try making a version with the two flavors together. Oh, and chocolate? That just makes it over the top!
Definitely make this while cranberries are on sale and easy to find at any supermarket. It's a recipe that everyone will be asking for, too--more unique than typical Christmas cookies/bars, while still being festive and delicious!
1 bag (12 oz) fresh cranberries
3 eggs
2 cups sugar
1-1/2 sticks of butter (3/4 cups), softened to room temperature
1/2 teaspoon orange extract
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups flour
1/2 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips (or white chocolate chips are great!)
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9x13 pan to keep cake from sticking.
Beat the eggs and sugar together in a mixer on medium speed for at least five minutes, until combined well and light in color, almost double the original volume (I would actually set a timer for this, so you make sure to mix it for the full five minutes).
Add the softened butter and vanilla and mix for another 2-3 minutes. Add the flour and mix lightly just until combined (don't over mix with the flour). Gently fold in the whole bag of cranberries.
Bake at 350 F for 40-45 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean and the top is just beginning to brown. Let the cake cool completely before cutting. If you cut it while it's still warm, it will be very crumbly and fall apart on you. (It was still a little warm in the photo I took above, which is why it looks so soft--if you let it sit longer to cool, it'll stay together more.) I hope you enjoy it!
I used to do posts once in a while of my current favorite things, but I haven't written one in a long time. And of course, last month would have been a much better time to post some gift ideas. As the ever-procrastinator, better late than never, right? Since Christmas is in just four days, I thought it'd be a fun time to share some of my current (or long-time) favorite things!
(Links to Amazon are affiliate links, meaning that I may get a small commission for the referral; but none of these are sponsored. I bought them all with my own money and love them enough to want to share.)
This is something that would either mean everything to you or nothing to you. I am completely addicted to chewing ice. I know it's horrible for my teeth and not exactly a good habit, but I simply cannot help it. When I discovered the ice at Sonic (and learned you can buy 10 lb. bags of it for $2!) I became obsessed. I was going through a bag every two days!
(Whenever I mention my ice chewing, someone always suggests getting my iron levels checked. I get it checked every year at my annual physical appointment, and my iron is fine. The ice is really just a habit.)
For my birthday this year, back in January, Jerry and the kids bought me an ice maker. (The one that I have is discontinued, but this one is nearly identical and is actually the best selling ice maker on Amazon--it has fantastic reviews).
I have gotten so much use out of it! I've already gotten my money's worth out of it 10 times over, because I'm not buying Sonic ice. And the best part about this ice maker is that the ice it produces is soft on my teeth. Eating hard pretzels is actually tougher on my teeth than eating this ice.
The ice is produced quickly enough to keep up with my habit (most of the time, haha) and the way it's made gives it an odd shape (I guess they are called bullet shaped)--but perfect for chewing. If you're an ice chewer, you'll love this!
I have read more books since getting the Kindle Paperwhite (10th generation) than I have in the past five years combined. I have to stress that I was VERY against using an e-reader because I liked the feel of an actual book in my hands. And I didn't like looking at computer screens much as it was, so why would I want to use one to read? Computer screens are hard on my eyes (good grief, between my teeth and my eyes, I sound 100 years old).
Since it's so easy to get library books in e-book format, I downloaded a couple to my iPad Mini 2. The iPad screen is just like a computer screen or phone screen, so I always assumed the Kindle Paperwhite would be the same... the backlight, the glare, the impossibility of seeing it while outside.
My sister has raved about her Paperwhite for years, and I finally decided to look into it some more. What was so different or great about it? It wasn't until I actually ordered one and tried it myself that I was a true convert.
The Paperwhite is LIGHTER THAN my paperback books and when I set the screen to have no backlight, the screen looks identical to a paperback page. There is no glare at all, and it's super easy to read outside. (There is a backlight you can turn on if you want to read in the dark, but I prefer to just turn on a lamp and keep the backlight off.) I love the size of it--it's small enough to tuck in my purse and pull out for few minutes in waiting rooms or while waiting in the car for the kids to come out of school.
It's super convenient to download books from my library (so, you don't have to buy books for it--you can use your library card to "borrow" e-books digitally, and then it downloads right to the Kindle). Also, with Amazon Prime First Reads (available for free to any Prime member), you can choose a book to keep for FREE every month (Amazon gives you a selection of about 6-8 books of various genres to choose from each month).
Jerry bought me a cute cat cover for mine, and I love it! (You can find the cover here on Amazon)
I love love love my Kindle Paperwhite, and I highly recommend it for anyone who enjoys reading! (Or, if you're like me, and you want to read more... the Paperwhite makes it so convenient.) Even if you think you could never enjoy using an e-reader, I am betting that you will convert to the digital dark side after trying it ;)
When I thought of what items I can't live without, this is the first thing that popped into my head.
I am always freezing. Unless I'm outside in the humid summer weather, I'm cold. It didn't used to bother me so much until after I'd lost the weight. Even though I'm not "skinny", it's like taking off the extra weight was taking off a winter coat... in Antarctica.
Anyway, I adore this heating pad. It's easy to move around because it's small and it helps warm me up quickly. I also have bad back pain, and heat is one of the only things that helps.
I will warn you that this gets REALLY warm. There are six settings, and I usually start on the lowest. Once my body adjusts to that, I bump it up to the second. On a normal day, I set it on 3-4 when I'm chewing ice and typing a blog post. (I know, if I'm cold, why do I want ice? I'll write more about this below.) On the days where I am chilled to the bone, I eventually work up to level six.
I went through a short phase where I loved bullet journaling. People create such amazing layouts and use them for such fun ideas! I have one that I still use (to keep track of my 40 Goals by 40 Years Old list) but a bullet journal was just too much work to keep up with on a daily basis. And I was a perfectionist about it, so I spent way too much time planning out pages and making it nice and neat. As a hobby, it's a great! But for a convenient tracking journal or planner, it was just too much work.
I found a great alternative, though, where I can still use a physical planner/journal (as opposed to an app) but it's super fast and I don't have to create layouts. It's perfect for what I use it for (a health goal-based planner and tracker).
The beginning has pages for you to set goals, and then there are monthly spreads and weekly spreads. Nothing complicated at all. On Sunday night, I fill out the weekly spread for the following week, and just before the end of the month, I fill out the monthly one for the next month.
This planner is my favorite for goal setting and tracking. I also don't feel bad for making a mistake, because it's not one of those "needs to look perfect" journals.
You can find the journal (with lots of different colors) here on Amazon: Clever Fox Planner
As I mentioned, I'm terrible at keeping up with a journal. A couple of years ago, however, I bought a five-year journal that only has a few lines per day. Each page has a date at the top (Jan 1, for example) and then there are five spots where you can fill in the year and write a sentence or two about that day. So, in the end, the Jan 1 page will have five years worth of short journal entries.
I love mine! There are several days where I forgot to write last year, but I've found that by setting it next to my bed and making it part of my routine just before I go to sleep, I was able to make it a habit. It's fun being able to read what I wrote last year on that same date.
Clearly, I just write with chicken scratch when this is (usually) for my eyes only, haha. I don't always write such "tame" entries ;)
If you have a hard time keeping up with a journal, or you don't have much to say and just want to write the basics (i.e. "Got pictures with Santa and set up the Christmas tree with the family tonight"), it's super simple and takes just two minutes max. And for less than $12, it'll only cost you about $2 per year!
I recently wrote about this vacuum on a post called, "The Best $50 I've Ever Spent". I am still in complete AWE of how well this vacuum works! You can read more about it on that post, but basically, this thing SUCKS--like, it will suck the color right out of your carpet. It'll suck the basement right through your living room floor. In terms of a sucker, this would be one lick to the tootsie roll center of a tootsie pop. This vacuum is SERIOUS about suction!
I vacuumed my living room rug with my old vacuum cleaner, which worked really well (or so I thought). And then I tried this one, and LOOK HOW MUCH CAME UP. It's disgusting and fascinating and SO satisfying at the same time.
Jerry always teases me about getting me a vacuum as a Christmas gift, because it's literally what he bought me for our first Christmas after we got married. He was super excited to give it to me, and when I opened it, was confused and, well, disappointed. He had made such a big deal about a special gift, and I wasn't sure what to imagine, but it definitely wasn't a vacuum. When I explained why a vacuum isn't exactly the most romantic gift to give your bride, we laughed about it. And it became a running joke every Christmas.
I have to say, now that I'm 100 years old, I would be thrilled to receive this vacuum for Christmas. Romance is overrated. This vacuum is a life-changer!
This is pretty new to me (I bought it on Amazon when I saw an awesome deal) but I already love it. I chose this brand because of a flash sale Amazon was having, but I was super impressed with the quality and I even bought another for Eli for Christmas.)
I'd tried a weighted blanket in the past and I didn't think the quality was very good. I wasn't thrilled with it, so I sent it back. But I still liked the idea of a weighted blanket--whenever I get x-rays done at the dentist and they put the lead apron on me, I actually ask them to leave it on because it feels comforting. That's the feel of a weighted blanket.
I really like this one because it's not hot. (I realize the irony of this, because I just said that I'm always cold; however, when I am at a warm temp from my heating pad, or just because I have the heat turned up too high in the house, this blanket--while heavy--isn't hot.)
I think the fabric feels nice. I bought a cover of the same brand, and it's made of a great quality. There are ties that you can tie into the loops that are on each side and each corner of the blanket. They have over 20 colors of blankets to chose from (in various sizes), and lots of duvet covers for them as well.
I originally bought a queen sized blanket, but I found that I was always folding it in half before placing it on my legs. (I didn't buy it for bed, but for sitting on the couch.) I like to sit with my heating pad behind my back and my feet propped up. So, the queen-sized blanket felt too big for my use. I ended up returning it and buying a twin-sized blanket instead (same model, just smaller).
If you're not sure what weight to buy, I would choose on the heavier side (if they had a 50-pound one, I would buy it! Hahaha, I love the weight.). If you like the feeling of the lead apron at the dentist, then definitely pick a heavier weight than suggested.
This is another item I've written about a couple of times before, but I love them so much that I just have to include them. I bought a set of Brooklinen sheets a few years ago as a reward for myself when I was losing weight (again). I had reached a milestone (I think when I got back to the 140's) and I bought a complete set--flat sheet, fitted sheet, duvet cover, and two pillow cases. I had read about these sheets but had a hard time justifying the expense, so I told myself that when I reached the 140's, I'd buy some. It gave me something to look forward to and to work toward.
They are completely worth it! The colors available are pretty basic, for the most part, but they are likely to match with just about any color scheme. I have two fitted sheets and two duvet covers now (to alternate when washing), six pillow cases, and one flat sheet. I read somewhere that people will use a comforter with a duvet and no flat sheet in between, and it sounded odd to me at first, but we started doing that and I love it!
I bought this super cheap white comforter on Amazon and it ended up being my most favorite comforter I've ever owned (I like it even more than a down comforter, which I had used in the past). It's super fluffy and cozy, it fits perfectly into the duvet cover, and it even has little loops on the corners to tie the duvet on. It has held up so well over time! With the comforter and duvet cover, I don't need any other blankets or a flat sheet (of course we still use a fitted sheet). Making my bed is super simple in the mornings!
(Speaking of which, I FINALLY made a headboard for my bed--just yesterday. I'll share photos once I get it hung up.)
But anyway, the main reason I love these sheets is because of their softness and amazing quality. I bought the Luxe Sateen sheets, which are very soft, but I did buy a couple of pillow cases in the Classic Percale to see if I liked it. (I would REALLY love to try the linen set, but they are just way too much money for me. Maybe someday!).
The regular cotton feels crisp and clean, and kind of reminds me of when you hang sheets outside to dry. They're a little stiffer than the sateen ones, and Jerry doesn't like them as much. The regular cotton is cooler, where the sateen is a little warmer; but it's really just personal preference. I like both, but if I had to choose, I'd pick the sateen.
Brooklinen has a referral program, so if you use this link to make a purchase on their site, then you will receive a $25 gift code and I will receive a $25 gift code as well! (So if you do this, I will have no choice but to buy another duvet cover in a different color or pattern.)
Of course, I have to include my favorite running things. I already wrote an enormous post about all things running, including my favorite gift ideas. You can find that post here: My Favorite Running Gear.
I'm sure there are other things I'm missing on this list, but I have been working on this list for days, and it's time I post it already! So here you go... some of the things that make me the happiest :)
I can't believe it's been 11 weeks since I got back to running regularly! I had tried several times over the last couple of years to get back to it, and other than training for the Martian Half-Marathon, I just couldn't find the motivation to do it more than a few weeks at a time. I really like this 3-3-3 plan that Thomas suggested (running 3 miles, 3 days a week, for 3 months). It's very minimal, but I think that's what I needed to adjust to the new habit.
Once I started running again, I became more interested in reading about running again. I used to love to read running books, and then once I took a (very long) hiatus from running, I just lost all interest in it. When I started the 3-3-3 plan, I also decided to finally read Born to Run--I liked that book so much that I wanted to read more.
I still love working on projects around the house, and I find that's a great time to listen to podcasts and audiobooks. While it's not quite the same as reading a book, I love that I can check out audiobooks from the library right from my phone, and within 30 seconds, I can find, download, and start listening. Listening while working on a project is the best!
I've listened to a few audiobooks about running recently, so I thought I'd write a little about them here. Listening to them motivated me to keep going, and made me actually look forward to running! (Not easy to do.)
All three of these are memoirs--not fictional or training type books. (Note: I didn't include spoilers here. Links are Amazon affiliate links, but I listened to these on Hoopla, so check if your local library supports Hoopla and you can listen for free!)
I've always loved reading memoirs about overcoming addiction, for some reason (I also love watching shows like Intervention). Catra is a former meth addict who started running after she got clean. Throughout the book, she describes parts of her past drug use and eventually what caused her to stop using.
She had to change her entire lifestyle (moving back in with her mother, losing her friends and boyfriend, and basically start an entire new life in order to stay clean). A friend suggested running a 10K with him and she discovered that she really loves to run. It seems to come very natural to her, also.
While I liked that she took up running so whole-heartedly, it was definitely intimidating to read about her extreme running feats. She didn't just run the occasional 5K, half-marathon, or even full marathon. She went on to run ultramarathons, including 100-mile races. As if that wasn't enough, she became the first American woman to run 100+ miles on more than 100 occasions. Crazy, right?!
And she doesn't just run long--she runs fast. She even holds the fastest known time for the John Muir Trail, which is 425 miles long. She ran that in 12 days 4 hours, and 57 minutes. I can't even wrap my head around that.
I enjoyed the entertainment aspect of this book, but I couldn't relate to it at all (not a bad thing; I just find books more interesting if I can relate). I have absolutely no desire to run that far, especially after reading how torturous it sounds in the book! haha. If you've ever wondered about running ultramarathons, though, this is a great read/listen.
When I started reading this, I didn't realize that Tom Foreman (the author/narrator) is a well-known CNN correspondent. If I had known that, I probably wouldn't have chosen this book. (With a couple of exceptions, I don't typically like celebrity memoirs; I'm not sure why that is, but I usually skip over them when looking for a memoir to read.) However, I'm glad I listened to this audiobook--I enjoyed it.
When his daughter was 18, she asked him if he'd like to run a marathon with her. He had been a runner in the past, but he chose to focus on his career and family, putting running on the back burner. To bond with his daughter, he agreed to run a marathon with her, and while she was away at college, they trained and discussed their runs on the phone.
Tom didn't just tentatively step back into the running scene... he dove in head-first. He ran four half-marathons, three marathons, and an ultramarathon in the span of the book--I can't remember the exact timeline, but I believe he ran his first ultramarathon less than a year after starting his adventure.
He spends a LOT of time training (while juggling his career and family). Again, I didn't find this very relatable because of the long distances, but it was an entertaining read/listen.
Out of the three audiobooks, this one was definitely my favorite--and probably because I could relate so much it was scary! Nita is a middle-aged overweight woman with bipolar disorder who begins running to help combat her depressive episodes as well as lose some weight. (Already sounds very familiar, right? The events of the book were even during the same time period that I was losing weight and started running.)
I love Nita's descriptions of her early running--to start running while depressed and overweight is very challenging, and she perfectly described the self-consciousness she felt. She began by running around her neighborhood, in spite of worrying about what the neighbors would think if they saw her. She also described how, during her depressive episodes, it was hard to push herself to get out there when all she wanted to do was play solitaire at home.
Nita is super relatable (and likable!) as your average woman who starts running for health and weight loss. She describes throughout the book the things she learns about running (what to wear, how to train, etc). She joins a running group to train for different races and forms a bond with the others as they train. She doesn't have children, but she has a husband who is super supportive as she makes running a huge part of her life. She also has a dog that she takes for runs with her.
This book is great if you're a new runner or someone who wants to start running. It's motivating to see the positive changes running can have on your life without taking it to the extreme. It may sound boring to read about an "average" runner, but I loved the details about going from couch potato to runner one small step at a time.
I suggested this book to my friend Emily (who also has bipolar disorder and wanted to start running). She loved the book, too. She said she was glad she listened to it instead of reading it because she found the run talk to be a bit on the technical side; her opinion was interesting, because it was that "technical" part of the book that I loved! However, she found it motivating enough to start running--and now she is doing Thomas's 3-3-3 suggestion as well.
Speaking of 3-3-3, Sunday concluded Week 11. Just a couple more weeks and I'll have reached three months! This week was a pretty good one. I ran twice on the treadmill and once outside.
Wednesday (treadmill; 3.65 miles in 40:48; 11:11 per mile; average HR 142)
This run blew my mind. I must have been having a very good day, because this was the run I'd been dreaming about since I started this 3-3-3 plan! I started the treadmill at 5.0 mph (which, according to my treadmill accuracy test, is actually 5.37 mph; I'll write a little more about this after I describe my outdoor run).
I fully expected to have to reduce the speed shortly after I started running in order to keep my heart rate at or under 146 bpm. Usually, I can do most of my run at 4.6-ish, and then end up having to lower it down to 4.3-ish; it's frustrating, but that's what I have to do to stay at my MAF heart rate.
For this run, I decided to use the manual lap button on my Garmin to see each mile split (when the treadmill read 0.94, 1.88, and 2.84).
Surprisingly, my HR monitor wasn't beeping at all to signal that my heart rate reached 147. I kept running and running, and soon, I'd hit a mile at 5.0 mph without going over my MAF heart rate. I tried so hard not to think about it and to just run, hopefully keeping my heart rate low and not jinxing it.
Two miles. Still nothing!
At that point, I started to wonder if I might be able to do the whole run at 5.0. I was very skeptical, because it's usually in the last mile that I have to reduce the speed a lot.
2.25 miles. Nothing.
2.5 miles. Nothing.
2.75 miles. Nothing.
I was stunned! I was SO SURE that it was going to beep in my final quarter mile, but it never did. I finished 3 miles at 5.0 mph, without a single beep from my HR monitor! I wanted to finish watching the episode of 24 that I was watching, so I kept running. At the end, I'd run almost 41 minutes without going over my MAF heart rate even once. I was so excited! This was huge progress, even if it was just due to a good day.
Below is the time spent in each heart rate zone. The goal is to stay in Zone 2 (my personal MAF zone), trying not to get into Zone 3 at all.
Interestingly, this run was on the 11th of the month; my splits for all three miles was 11:11/mile (making my overall average pace 11:11/mile as well). And 11 happens to be my very favorite number! All coincidence, but pretty neat.
I remembered doing some runs on the treadmill in January where I set the speed on the treadmill at 5.0 mph and just let it stay at that speed for 30 minutes while I ran. I was doing a sort of reverse heart rate training (training a specific pace and then hoping to see my heart rate get lower over time at that same pace). I didn't stick with the training, of course, but I'm glad I did that, because this was a good comparison.
In January, at 5.0 mph for 30 minutes:
Jan 17: average HR of 150 bpm
Jan 20: average HR of 151 bpm
Jan 22: average HR of 150 bpm
Jan 24: average HR of 147 bpm
Feb 4: average HR of 153 bpm
Feb 6: average HR of 149 bpm
Feb 8: average HR of 151 bpm
Feb 11: average HR of 157 bpm
And that's when I quit. No runs until May, where I only ran once. Then July. So, while I can't say anything for sure after this specific run on Wednesday, it's nice to see the difference from January. Those runs were also just 30 minutes, and on Wednesday, I ran for 41 minutes.
I also read my notes from a run in August on the treadmill, which is encouraging for now:
"Started out at 5.0 and was miserable. Decided to run by heart rate. MAF is 143 bpm. Had to 'run' at 4.1-4.3 mph on the treadmill to stay at MAF." (That run had an average HR of 143 for 40 minutes, where Wednesday's was 142.)
Saturday (treadmill; 3.54 miles in 41:17; 11:40/mile; average HR 144 bpm)
Not quite as good as Wednesday, but I wasn't expecting such a good repeat. I wore my Altras (still only doing that once a week to adjust to them). I also had a horrible, relentless headache that had started shortly after my run on Wednesday.
I started the treadmill at 5.0 mph, but after half a mile lowered it to 4.9 and then 4.8. I ran at 4.8 for a long time, occasionally switching to 4.9 or 4.7. Not as steady as Wednesday, but still a big progression. Again, I wanted to finish my episode of 24, so I ran longer than necessary.
Sunday (outdoors; 3.03 miles in 37.25; 12:21/mile; average HR 145 bpm)
This is the run that leaves me with doubts about the stupid treadmill again! I was very confident with the accuracy test that I did; the tool I used was the same type of tool that is used for measuring sports' fields, race courses, etc. Known for accuracy! However, considering my outdoor pace was over a minute slower than Wednesday's pace, I wonder (again) about the treadmill's calibration. I think I'll start taking the distance on the treadmill at face value, rather than adjusting later. If I'm wrong, it'll just mean that I'm running a little longer and faster than the treadmill shows. I'd rather err on that side.
Anyways, the higher heart rate and slower pace could be because my anxiety was really high for this run. I have no idea why I was so anxious about running outside! I felt like I do before running a race, and for the first mile or two of a race. Super dry mouth, very weak, wobbly legs, and feeling like my throat is closed up. I wonder if I was nervous because I worried I might not see any progress from the outdoor runs, which would negate the progress I thought I was seeing on the treadmill.
I don't know why it was, but I was very nervous during this whole run. I didn't look at my watch at all, but my heart rate monitor beeped several times (maybe eight?) throughout the three mile run. This run also seemed SO much longer than my runs on the treadmill. It wasn't entirely miserable, but it wasn't enjoyable until it was over.
I had expected to see a pace in the 13:00's, so I was pleasantly surprised to see 12:21 average. My splits were very even, too--12:18, 12:23, and 12:23. Pretty good for not even looking at my watch!
Looking at the zones below, you can see that I kept hitting Zone 3, so I had to slow down whenever that happened.
I'm so glad that I saw some progress this week. Even if Wednesday's was a one-off for a while, it was encouraging to do that!
I recently watched an Amazon Original movie, Brittany Runs A Marathon, and the whole time I was watching, I kept thinking, "I should have been taking notes so that I can write about this on my blog!" because it was SO relatable. And motivating. And sad. And inspiring. And funny.
As a forewarning, there will be SPOILERS in this post--however, this movie isn't exactly suspenseful or anything (the title says it all) so even if you know the plot from start to finish, it's still worth watching. But if you don't want to know anything about it, then definitely skip this post. (Or watch the movie and then come read it)
I ended up rewatching the movie so that I could take notes to write a blog post (and I took an embarrassing amount of notes--nine pages scribbled in a notebook!).
The overall theme of this movie is humor (it's definitely funny), but I found so many parts of it very sad as well. I'll get into that more later.
The main character is Brittany, a 29-year old single woman from Philadelphia who is now living a carefree lifestyle in NYC. She lives in an apartment with a roommate/best friend, Gretchen.
When Brittany was a child, her parents got divorced and her mom left. Her dad became very depressed, and Brittany used humor to cheer him up. He eventually became ill and died, so Brittany's sister (can't remember her name) and brother-in-law, Demetrius, took her in. Demetrius was a father-figure to her and the two became very close.
Brittany is obese at 5'6" and 197 pounds, but I love that the producer didn't show her as the stereotypical obese person on TV--i.e. making her skin look bad, wearing frumpy clothes, sad all the time, no friends, etc. She's actually gorgeous; she does her hair and make-up, and she's outgoing, funny, and you basically want to be best friends with her. I do, anyway.
You can tell immediately that she is very insecure, however, and she uses humor to cover her insecurity. Later in the film, she'll drunkenly say, "People love fat people when they're being funny." That is clear during the movie. Something she does frequently when you can tell she feels uncomfortable is speak in a British accent. It's obvious that she is using it to make light of her insecurity and try to cover it by being funny.
Basic Plot in a Nutshell:
Brittany learns from her doctor that she is obese and has high blood pressure. He suggests making some lifestyle changes (diet and exercise). She cannot afford to join a gym, so she decides to start running. She heads out with the intention of running one block, and she does--although it was very difficult for her.
She continues to run, and Catherine, her neighbor (a runner that Brittany makes fun of, calling her "Moneybags Martha" behind her back, and who is usually heading out for a run in the early morning when Brittany is coming home from a night of drinking at a club) invites her to join a run group. Brittany attends and meets Seth, a gay man maybe a little older than Brittany's age, who is married and has a son. Brittany and Seth become close friends, and ultimately, Catherine joins them, making a trio.
As they run together, Brittany suggests that they run the NYC marathon. After some convincing, the threesome trains together. Brittany, meanwhile, is making healthier choices (no more drinking or going out late on the weekends and eating somewhat healthier) and she is losing weight. The more she loses, the more focused and determined she becomes.
As the title states, Brittany does run a marathon--but there are several bumps along the way.
Here is the trailer for film:
The Super Detailed Version (and my thoughts):
Now, for the long, very detailed version (with spoilers, FYI) and my thoughts on the movie:
First, I have to say that the writer/director of this movie did an AMAZING job writing this as if he was truly inside the head of a fat/formerly-fat girl's head--I cannot believe how well he captured the thoughts and insecurities of us fat girls (I mean no disrespect by using the phrase "fat girls"--Brittany and others refer to "fat girls" in the movie, and it's a strong theme, so I'm going to use those words as well. As a fat girl/former fat girl myself, I have never had a problem with those words when used in this sort of context.
There is a scene at the beginning of the movie where Brittany is drinking at a club and talking to a guy. He asks her if she wants to go into the bathroom with him; she smiles and says, "You ARE pretty cute," and you can tell she thinks that he's into her as well. Then he picks up some napkins from the table and tells her that she can put her knees on them (clearly for kneeling down in the bathroom to perform oral sex).
His presumption was so degrading. She liked having a guy's attention, but then felt that slap in the face of humiliation. Sort of like him saying, "Hey, this chick will take what she can get and she's lucky I want anything to do with her."
The next day, she goes to the local gym and learns that it's $129+ per month. She retorts, "You do know people can go outside... and just, like, do things...outside...?" Since money is tight for her, and she is "up to her tits in debt", she skips the gym and decides to run on her own.
As a true newbie to exercising, she dresses in a lace bra, sweatpants, hoodie, and Converse Chucks for her first run, not knowing anything about running clothes or shoes. I liked this detail--I was clueless how to dress when I first started running!
She stares at the door to go outside for a moment, willing herself to open it and go. As she steps outside, she catches her distorted reflection on the side of a hot dog cart, and after staring for a minute, she goes back inside her apartment and cries, skipping the run.
"Moneybags Martha", who is actually named Catherine, hears her crying from her apartment next door and goes to check on her. Brittany is bitter with Catherine because Catherine seems to have the perfect life--money, fitness, health, family.
Brittany tells her as she sobs, "I'm broke. I'm fat. I applied to rescue a dog from a kill shelter, and they told me that I couldn't give the dog the kind of future it deserved. A KILL shelter!" (I thought this was so sad and hilarious.)
Catherine shares with Brittany that she used to be a heroin addict. She in the middle of a messy divorce and and her husband has custody of her kids. She started running a lot after quitting the drugs, and the running turned into her therapy.
The next day, Brittany tries the run again, telling herself she's going to go just one block. And she starts running. I found this part funny, because as she runs that one block, looking like a fish out of water, the end of the block is visible--then the film editing makes the end stretch out farther and farther away (to Brittany, it looks infinitely long).
Afterward, Catherine bumps into her on the stairs to the apartment and invites her to a running group. Brittany rudely scoffs at the idea, but ends up going. When she arrives, Catherine is telling the group that they are going to run two miles at a 9:00/mile pace. As soon as everyone starts running, Brittany falls behind and is running solo.
I have to say, if I went to a running group for the first time and that's what they expected (9:00/mile?!), I'd turn around and go right home. That's asking a lot! I love that Brittany stayed and did what she could.
Eventually, a man comes up behind her, huffing and puffing like she is, and she learns that he is new to running, too. His name is Seth, and he wants to run a 5K to impress his (toddler) son. To which Brittany replies, "Why would you do that to yourself? You're not going to win." This made me laugh and wonder if non-runners think that all runners enter races to try to win them!
He and Brittany become fast friends and begin running together regularly. Seth invites Catherine to join them, and Brittany eventually starts to warm up to Catherine.
(I will stop here for a second to say that before I lost the weight, I used to think that thin, pretty women were automatically happy... what could they be unhappy about when they looked like that? Over the past 10 years, I've learned that all women have insecurities, and like Catherine, maybe they weren't always living a healthy lifestyle. Everybody has a story, and losing the weight made me stop assuming things about people that I didn't know.)
Brittany asked her roommate/best friend, Gretchen, if she wanted to go for a run with her sometime. Gretchen replies, "If I do too much cardio, I get too skinny too quickly, remember?" (At which point, every fat girl watching the movie wants to strangle her.)
Gretchen is NOT a nice girl. She's super pretty, but very insecure about herself and cares way too much about what other people think of her. She posts about her "perfect life" to Instagram and obsesses over how many "likes" she gets. Each time Brittany says something positive about herself, Gretchen gives her a backhanded compliment.
When Brittany mentions Seth to Gretchen, Gretchen asks, "Is he like a serious runner, or is he like you?" An either/or question.
Gretchen is forever mentioning in a passive way that Brittany is not a "real" runner and she's just going through a phase. Nevertheless, she agreed to go to see Brittany at the finish line of her first 5K.
Brittany runs with Seth during the 5K, and at one point, they are running super slowly uphill. Brittany tells him that they're running backwards, hahaha. I have felt that way so many times!
No surprise, Gretchen isn't there at the finish line. Seth's husband and son are there, and the other runners all have people waiting for them. Seth asks Brittany where Gretchen is, that he "wanted to meet her best friend". Brittany makes an excuse for Gretchen, but you can tell she's hurt.
Later, Gretchen told her, "I wanted to go to your thing, but Ace of Base was doing this show thing and it didn't start until 2:00 am", so she was too tired to wake up early and go to the finish line. Brittany is disappointed, of course, and is starting to get fed up with Gretchen's selfishness.
Brittany checks out her race photos online, and they look like nearly all of my race photos--horribly unflattering. Race photos are almost never flattering! It's funny watch her look through them, because I'm sure any runner can relate to seeing unflattering race photos online.
Gretchen's comments about Brittany not being a real runner really start to get to Brittany. She suggests to Seth and Catherine that the three of them run the NYC marathon together. Catherine loves the idea, but it takes some convincing to get Seth to agree. Catherine explains that there is a lottery to get a spot in the race, and if they don't get a spot, then they'll need to raise money and run for a charity in order to do it.
Brittany gets a new job as a pet sitter for long term periods, and she discovers that the apartment for her first sitting job is a multi-million dollar apartment. The couple who lives there is away for months, and she is to stay there during the day to take care of the dog and plants. There is another sitter that goes for a night shift.
When the night shift sitter arrives, she learns his name is Jern and that he actually moved into the apartment (which isn't allowed by the agency). She is annoyed by him--he's a slob, leaving trash all over the house and not taking care of things.
One evening, Gretchen tells Brittany that she broke up with her boyfriend and she wants to go out drinking; Brittany uncomfortably declines. Gretchen suggests ice cream instead, and again, Brittany tells her that she would rather not. Brittany gently says that weeknight drinking is hard on her because she has to run the next day. Gretchen dramatically replies, "Now you're calling me an alcoholic?!"and calls Brittany's friends losers. She closes the bathroom door in Brittany's face.
Having a newfound confidence, and not willing to take Gretchen's insults anymore, Brittany opens the door and stands up to her. She says that Gretchen's whole life is about being insecure and humble bragging on Instagram.
She tells Gretchen, "I'm starting to feel good about myself. And every time that happens, you have to tear me down. I'm not going to be your fat sidekick anymore."
And then Gretchen--Brittany's "best friend"--drops this bomb: "Don't throw away your fat clothes. I've seen girls like you do this before. It doesn't even matter if you keep the weight off. You'll always be a fat girl. It's just who you are."
I wanted to strangle Gretchen at that moment. I had to deal with comments like this several times while losing the weight. On the positive side, it didn't hurt my feelings--it just made me angry. And that worked to my advantage! Those words were like adding fuel to the fire in my determination to get to my goal weight.
On the other hand, it's kind of true. I've lost the weight. I've kept most of it off. But I am still a fat girl inside. I'm not saying that's a bad thing, and I think those of you in the same situation will understand what I mean when I write that. I have more confidence now, but I am still extremely insecure about my looks, my weight, and what other people think about my body. I always think about my weight and no matter how hard I try NOT to, it's there inside of me. I can't unhear the comments that people used to make to me or how people used to treat me.
After her fight with Gretchen, Brittany ends up moving into the apartment where she is dog-sitting, so she spends quite a bit of time with Jern when she isn't running or with Seth and Catherine. She's feeling much more confident and is approaching her goal weight.
I learned that Jillian Bell, the actress who played Brittany, had lost 29 pounds before filming and another 11 pounds during filming. The entire filming process only took 29 days!
Because of the short amount of time, and Jillian Bell's weight loss prior to filming, they needed to use prosthetics to make her look heavier at the beginning of the film. The prosthetics were subtle, though. I love that this isn't a fairy tale-like story where the producer has her wear a huge fat suit and then strip it off and get stick-thin for the ending. In my opinion, the weight loss looks very realistic.
Jern helps Brittany set up a dating profile, and she has a date that goes really well. She has dinner at the guy's apartment, and afterward, they sit on his couch and kiss. Almost immediately, Brittany kneels on the floor (presumably to perform oral sex) and he stops her right away, seemingly a little taken aback.
He suggests going to the bedroom. Then it's Brittany that seems unsure and confused, and it's clear that she's been used by men several times--men that don't care about her or her feelings and just want a quick blow job. She's not sure how to deal with someone who actually seems to like her.
In the bedroom, they kiss again. Whenever Brittany is uncomfortably insecure, she speaks with a British accent to be funny. She made a joke in the bedroom, and her date told her, "No more of this British stuff. You don't need to be guarded with me."
She immediately makes up an excuse about it being late and that she has to leave. You can tell that she just isn't sure how to act around a guy who seems to genuinely like her. He saw through her insecurity and called her out on it.
Later that night, she has a conversation with Jern about what it's like to be a "fat girl". "The saddest part about being a girl who is not a size 0 is sometimes guys talk to you like you're one of the boys. You're 'privileged' enough to get to hear the uncensored thoughts that they would never tell a woman." (She's referring to guys looking through Instagram and saying things like women are slutty, ugly, fat, etc.)
Again, I can relate to this. I've always been friends with boys (even now, most of my friends are male) and treated like one of the guys. Thankfully, my friends are now more mature than what she described, but when I was much younger, I definitely heard boys talk about women like that.
Brittany has grown to really like Jern, and he has never even mentioned her weight. It seems to be a non-issue to him. When she was talking about it, he even said that different people like different things (subtly implying that "fat girls" are liked, too).
She eventually realizes she likes him and wants to seduce him, and despite the hints she gives him, he's a bit clueless. But eventually, he realizes what she's doing and they end up in bed together. I thought this scene was very powerful. Rather than being the girl who would drop to her knees because a cute boy asks her to, she was very confident and took control. They had sex, which wasn't degrading or humiliating to her at all, and afterward, she started crying as she laid on the bed next to him. He was worried he did something wrong, but she just says, "I enjoyed that very much."
You could tell that it was the first time she'd had sex and felt special--Jern liked and respected her, treated her with care, and gave her confidence. She could be herself and feel secure around him.
At just five pounds from her goal weight, she is excited about making a whole new Brittany. She keeps visualizing herself running the marathon, with people cheering all around her. She bumps into Gretchen on the subway as she's going to her first half-marathon, and Gretchen clearly misses her friendship. But Brittany just tells her that she's going to her race, with "serious runners headed to the half-marathon. Very real, very serious runners."
Later, Brittany gets a call from Seth, who tells her that he made it into the NYC marathon. Brittany checks her email and discovers that she did not get a spot. So, she has to earn money for a charity in order to run. Seth tells her that they will figure it out, and she says, "Why would you want to help me?" Seth replies, "Because I'm your friend, Brittany."
This reaction is SO familiar to me. I have always been so skeptical of anyone who wants to do something nice for me or who wants to be my friend. I feel like I'm missing something--why would anyone want to be friends with me? It's the insecurity of the "fat girl" inside of me. It's hard to believe that someone would actually enjoy being around me and it's such a difficult mindset to get over.
My friend told me one time that it's kind of a selfish mindset--when I think that way, it's all about me. That was helpful to hear her thoughts, because it made sense to me. I still struggle with it, but I try to be more trustful.
This mindset of hers was reinforced later that day, when she attended Catherine's housewarming party. Catherine and Seth generously presented her a check to cover her charity fundraising so that she'd be able to get a spot in the marathon. She asks why, and Seth says, "You really inspired us, Brit."
She again feels like she's not worthy. She declines the money and rudely leaves the party, saying that she doesn't want their pity or help.
Feeling down, she gets on the scale one morning to see she's gained a couple of pounds and she panics.
(This is super common during initial weight loss--every single gain feels like it's the start of gaining back every last pound. It's so frustrating while trying to make sense that it's normal for weight to fluctuate. I think most people who have lost a significant amount of weight go through this at some point--seeing a gain and then feeling panicked and trying to overcompensate. It's hard to find a balance.)
She restricts her eating a little more, runs more, and feels desperate to get back to that warm, happy place where the scale is always moving down and you're constantly seeing progress.
She overdoes it with the running and ends up with an injury--a stress fracture that will take weeks to heal. The doctor tells her she cannot run at all while it's healing. I know exactly how frustrating this is, because I went through it as well. When I was told I needed to rest my fibular stress fracture in 2015, I resisted it so much.
I spent months resting for a week or two, then running again and it would come right back. I was so worried about losing my fitness and gaining back all the weight. It took about nine months, but I finally decided to listen to the doctor and take a full six weeks off. And lo and behold, it healed just perfectly. Still, runners hate injuries because of not being able to run and possibly losing the fitness that we worked so hard to gain.
I was not surprised, then, when it causes Brittany to completely derail from her transformation. One line that I found to be the most relatable line in the movie was when she comes home from the doctor and as she's thinking about how her transformation is "over", she tells Jern, "It was really nice to be a woman for once. People held doors for me."
This struck me hard. Before losing the weight, I NEVER felt like a girl. I wasn't one of the girls who is self-confident and wears cute clothes and does her hair and make-up. I wished I was one of those girls! But I just didn't feel worthy. I hate this expression, but I felt like trying to be pretty was "like polishing a turd". In my eyes, at that time, my weight = ugly = unfeminine = why bother trying to look nice? I felt invisible most of the time.
When I lost quite a bit of weight and I started wearing nicer clothes and putting care into my appearance, things changed so much. I felt like I fit in more with my pretty girlfriends, and I got attention from men. People held the door for me. Strangers started making small talk with me. I felt visible and feminine for the first time in my life. I loved feeling that way.
While I'm nowhere near my heaviest weight now, I struggle with feeling pretty again after gaining some weight back. I take less care with my appearance. I'm hard on myself. I wish that wasn't the case, but even after all this time since losing the weight, I never really found the self-esteem that wasn't dependent on my weight. It's sad! But real. So hearing her state that "it was nice to be a woman for once" was very powerful for me.
Moving on... she feels completely defeated because of her injury and moves home to Philadelphia. She doesn't take calls from Seth or Catherine and spends most of the time feeling sorry for herself. On the day of the NYC marathon, she sees photos on Instagram of Seth and Catherine with their finisher's medals, and you can see that she's feeling sad about missing it, even though they tried to get in touch with her to let her know they still care.
She gets very drunk on Demetrius's birthday when there are guests at his party, and she says some very cringe-worthy things to an overweight woman who arrives with a thin boyfriend. Brittany points out that they are an odd couple because she's overweight and he's thin. The interaction is very rude, but it shows that while Brittany may have lost the weight, she is still just as insecure as she was before. She doesn't understand how someone could be happy while being overweight.
Weight loss does not equal happiness and confidence. It's a hard lesson to learn when you're losing weight and hoping that things magically change when you get to your goal weight. I was just as insecure when I was down to a size 2 as I was at a size 24. I think that is the hardest part about weight maintenance--figuring out how to change on the inside (for the better) as well as the outside.
After her stress fracture is healed, and her pity party gets old, she moves back to NYC and decides that she wants to try to run the marathon the following year. She finds a good job and works on getting her mess of a life back together.
The movie skips ahead to one year later, and Brittany heads to the starting line of the marathon. As the title says, Brittany does, in fact, run the marathon. It's not a perfect race, and she struggles a lot when she hits the wall, but she gets through it (I'll leave those details out of the spoilers).
As the credits play, there are photos of the "real" Brittany, who the film was inspired by. The writer/director of the film, Paul Downs-Colaizzo, wrote this script based on his friend and roommate, Brittany O'Neill. The real-life Brittany had decided to change her life and become a runner; Paul was inspired by her changes and decided to write a film script (very loosely) based on her lifestyle transformation.
I thought that the weight loss was realistic--and technically it was, because Jillian Bell lost 40 pounds for the role. I liked that she didn't get overly thin--she looked healthy and "normal".
My favorite takeaway from the film was just how realistically it portrays "fat girl" thoughts. For women who spend the first 25-30 or so years of life overweight, a lot of the negative thoughts and experiences were very accurate (in my opinion, of course).
The only part I found to be somewhat unrealistic was that this seemed to be her first attempt at weight loss/exercise for health, and she nailed it on the first try. I attempted weight loss a trillion times in my life before I finally did it; and I attempted exercise programs almost as many times.
Maybe some people get it right on the first try, but I think they are in the minority. However, that would be hard to show in a movie.
Other than that, though, I felt like this movie was very relatable, hilarious, sad, inspiring, and thoughtful.
If you've seen it, I'd love to know your thoughts on it! Feel free to share in a comment.
Last week was kind of crazy, so I didn't post. Whenever I had a chance to take a breather, I just didn't feel like being on the computer, so I read my book or worked on a knitting project for a friend. I kept taking mental notes about things I planned to write about on my blog, and now I forget most of them!
First, though... I have a new niece! Laura, Jerry's sister, had a baby last Monday. It was quite the ordeal. Laura was set to be induced into labor on Saturday evening, and I was ready to head to the hospital as soon as she called. She said I could be in the delivery room, and I was so excited--I'd never witnessed a birth before, and I always thought it would be such an amazing experience.
She didn't get settled in until Saturday night, so I knew it'd be a while before anything was happening. I didn't make plans on Sunday because I wanted to be ready to go. On Sunday afternoon, Laura said that she still wasn't having regular contractions and she was only dilated to 4 cm. A few hours later, she said the contractions were a lot stronger and that I could head up there anytime.
I drove up to Ann Arbor on Sunday at around 7:00 pm. When I got there, I could tell it would be a while (or I guessed, rather, based on my own experience with being induced twice). They had Laura lying on her side with a huge bean-shaped bouncy ball between her knees. The baby was facing the wrong direction (not breech, but she was facing Laura's belly and not her back). So, Laura's back was hurting pretty badly.
I pulled up a chair next to her and chatted for a couple of hours, and then the doctor came in to check her cervix, so her mom, mother-in-law, and I went to the waiting room. By this time, it was around 10:00 pm. The nurse told us we'd have a wait a while because the anesthesiologist was going to give her an epidural.
A couple of hours later, the nurse came to the waiting room and told us that they'd broken Laura's water to get things moving faster. Laura was super tired, and since it would likely be several hours before the baby would come, her husband asked us to go home and let Laura sleep if she was able.
I was wide awake and actually went grocery shopping on my way home at 1:00 am. Grocery shopping at that hour was a new experience for me, and I was surprised at just how many people were there. I took a sleeping pill when I got home because I was still wide awake and I knew I'd want to get some sleep before going back to the hospital. The nurse said she guessed Laura wouldn't be ready to push until 7:00 am.
At 4:00, Jerry's mom called to say they were going back up there, that Laura was dilated to 9 cm. I wished I hadn't taken the sleeping pill because I was too tired to drive at that point. I hoped that after a few more hours of sleep, it wouldn't be too late for me to go.
At 8:00, when I woke up, Laura had been pushing for nearly two hours(!)--so I quickly dressed and went back to the hospital (about a 55-minute drive). I was driving around the parking garage, hoping I would make it in time, and then I got a text saying that they were going to do a c-section.
I was super bummed! Since we wouldn't be able to see Laura or the baby for several hours, I just went back home. In the afternoon, I got a picture text:
This is Shelby! She was born healthy, 7 lbs 9 oz, via c-section. The night before, everyone had written guesses as to Shelby's weight and length on the whiteboard at the hospital, and I guessed 7 lbs 10 oz--so I was the "winner" ;)
Jerry stopped at the hospital after work, and we planned to go (with our kids) to visit Laura and Shelby once they were settled in at home. However, shortly after Laura got home, she developed a fever and a rash all over her body, so she went back into the hospital. The doctors had no idea what was wrong, and she ended up staying for two nights while they tried to figure it out and get her fever down.
She was able to go home yesterday, and I'm not sure what they finally determined had happened. Shelby stayed with Jerry's parents while Laura was back in the hospital, so I feel bad that Laura had to miss a couple of days with the newborn baby. I'm glad she's doing better, though. I'm hoping that we'll get to visit sometime this week.
I miss being around babies! Luke and Riley are growing up way too fast.
Sunday finished off Week 10 of my 3-3-3 running (running 3 miles, 3 times a week, for 3 months to get back into the habit of running regularly).
I suspected that one of my medications was causing a higher heart rate during my runs, so my plan for the week was to run in the morning and then take my medication afterward rather than waiting until afternoon or evening to run. I used to be a "morning person", but for the last few years, I am definitely NOT. I don't really feel awake and motivated until late morning.
Each morning this week that I woke up early to try to run right away, I just couldn't do it. And because of that, I put my runs off until I only had three days left in the week--Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. I really didn't intend to do that, but because I am super determined to get in three runs a week every week, doing it three days in a row is better than skipping it altogether. (But I am not going to do that again.)
It's interesting, though--I didn't dread running at all this week. I feel like this 3-3-3 plan is finally starting to help me get back in the habit. I prefer the treadmill right now (I just feel more comfortable staying at home to run, for some reason), but maybe I'll start taking it outside once in a while.
My only complaint is that in order to keep my heart rate at or below my MAF target (146 bpm), I have to run very slowly--so slowly that it's actually difficult to do. I wouldn't mind this so much if it didn't take so long to finish three miles! I used to count on roughly 10 minutes per mile when figuring out how long my runs were going to take. It's a nice round number and was pretty close to my average easy pace. Now, however, it takes roughly 40 minutes to do three miles. On a bad day, it's 42-43 minutes, and a good day, 38-39 minutes.
This week was better, though--I was able to run faster at my MAF heart rate. I'm really looking forward to the day that I can set the treadmill at 5.0 mph and leave it there for a whole run! Or to start doing speed work--it's so crazy to me that I actually miss intervals and tempo runs. I think holding off on them until after the three months is a good thing, though, because it makes me look forward to adding those runs.
(Note: The miles per hour and pace don't match up because the treadmill's distance displays slightly shorter than the actual distance... when the treadmill reads 1.00 miles distance, its actual distance should read 1.06.)
Ever since I started running again, I noticed that my feet feel different than they used to. After just a few minutes of running, I get a pain in the side of each foot, but mainly my right foot. I had started with my old pair of Ghosts 8, the model that I was wearing for a couple of years before I stopped running. I tried a new pair of those (I still had a brand new pair that I'd bought before I quit running) and they felt better than the old ones, but I was still getting that pain.
I thought about why that would be happening, and my theory is that my feet have gotten used to less support over the last two years. After I stopped running, I wore my Converse Chucks almost exclusively--and those are completely flat without arch support or cushioning. After reading Born to Run and learning more about why our feet grow accustomed to the support shoes, I wondered if the bones, ligaments, and tendons in my feet strengthened and toughened up from not having the arch support.
I thought back to when I wore Altras, which are meant as a middle ground between support shoes and bare feet. They are flat on the bottom, so they don't offer arch support, but they are cushioned. They also have a foot-shaped toe box so that your toes can spread out while running. (I have a long post about them here.)
When I first switched to them, it was because Golden Harper (the founder of Altra) was at a Runner's World event that I attended as a blogger, and he gave us a detailed demonstration of why he developed Altra shoes. I loved the idea, and his explanation made so much sense to me!
He warned us bloggers that we should definitely allow for an adjustment period of a month or so to transition into using Altra shoes exclusively. When going from a support shoe to a zero-drop shoe (flat) with unsupported arches, you can get injured because your feet rely on that support that they are used to. You are supposed to gradually introduce the new shoes so that your feet have time to strengthen and get accustomed to them.
I was likely hypomanic during that time, and very impulsive. Of course, I didn't listen to Golden's warning, and I wore them immediately for all my runs. Several months later, I got a stress fracture in my fibula. Whether it was due to the Altras, I have no idea; but I switched to Brooks Ghosts after allowing my fracture to heal.
With the pain I've been getting in my feet over the last couple of months, I decided to try Altras again; only this time, I would transition properly. I bought the Altra Escalante model. As soon as I got the shoes and tried them on, I LOVED how they felt!
I wanted to wear them exclusively, but I know better now. I have had them for two weeks, and I've worn them twice. For the next couple of weeks, I'll continue to wear them for just one run per week. Then I'll try two runs per week for a month or so. And then I'll try switching over completely.
They are very comfortable, but I can tell that they stretch my hamstring and calf muscles more than my Ghosts allowed (because my heels aren't raised in the Altras like they are in the Ghosts). This isn't a bad thing (it's a good thing, actually, because my feet are in a more natural position), but I need to get used to it gradually.
Anyway, here is my recap for Week 10:
Friday (3.36 miles in 40:05, 11:56/mile pace, average HR 143 bpm)
I actually did manage to run in the morning on Friday, because I was planning to go to the hospital with my mom (she had an ablation procedure on her heart). However, I had taken my meds right when I woke up, forgetting that I planned to wait until after my run.
I started the run at 4.7 mph, hoping to be able to leave it there for the duration, but had to lower it to 4.6 when my heart rate monitor beeped at me. However, I was able to keep it between 4.6 and 4.7 mph for all but about 30 seconds when I had to lower it to 4.5 mph. I didn't have to lower the incline at all. This is definitely progress from a couple of weeks ago!
I watch the show 24 while I'm on the treadmill and each episode is about 40-42 minutes or so. When I reached three miles, I kept running to finish out the episode. I actually did that for all three runs this week.
Saturday (3.48 miles in 41:04, 11:48/mile pace, average HR 145 bpm)
I started this run at 5.0 mph, hoping that when my heart rate hit my MAF, I wouldn't have to reduce the speed so much to lower my heart rate. I was able to go between 4.9 and 5.0 for 1.5 miles! That's the fastest I've been able to run while staying at my MAF heart rate in a long time.
After that, though, I had to lower the speed quite a bit to 4.6 mph and occasionally 4.5 for the rest of the run. I was still able to keep the incline at a flat 0%. I don't lower the incline unless the pace gets too slow to maintain decent running form (about 4.2-4.3 mph).
I felt VERY good during this run, especially during the beginning when I was able to run faster. It made my legs feel great! I think that hydration plays a big role in how I feel as well, because I was very well-hydrated Saturday. I haven't been doing well at staying hydrated lately, and Saturday's run made me want to pay more attention to it.
Sunday (3.44 miles in 40:58, 11:54/mile pace, average HR 145 bpm)
I was hoping for another run like Saturday, but I started at 5.0 mph and had to decrease speed to 4.9 and then 4.8 within the first mile. Second mile was mostly 4.6 to 4.8. And then the third mile was between 4.5 and 4.6.
I wore the Altras, so the different running form may have had something to do with my higher heart rate. I notice that I focus on my form and breathing more when I wear the Altras because I am so conscious of how they feel and whether they help with the pain. (I don't get the foot pain that I do in the Ghosts, so it's a good sign so far!).
It's interesting, though--when wearing the Altras, my right foot drags on the belt occasionally (I hear a ziiiiip noise when the shoe brushes against the belt). This makes me more aware of my running form.
While a lot of runners tend to pronate their feet when they run, I actually supinate (the opposite--it's where I land on and push off of the outer side of my feet). You can clearly see it when looking at my shoes--the outside edge of my shoes is what wears down first. The Ghosts are meant to straighten that out, but when wearing the Altras, my feet feel more "free".
It's the outside part of my foot that touches the belt occasionally, likely due to supination from the different (more natural) shoes. Again, it's not necessarily a bad thing--I'm just hoping that by strengthening my feet and focusing on running with the proper form, I can correct it naturally rather than with support shoes.
So, Week 10 felt like a really great week, other than the fact that I squashed all three runs into three days. I took yesterday off, and I plan to run later this afternoon or evening. And... I'm actually looking forward to it! It's nice that I'm finally seeing some progress. :)
I plan to write a "catch-up" post tomorrow regarding this past week, but I wanted to make sure to get this posted as soon as possible.
My friend Jax is doing something amazing for Christmas, and at first, I was just going to write a paragraph or two about it in a regular post; once I started that, though, I realized Jax basically just deserves his own post because there are several cool things to share!
I met Jax and his wife, Lora, at a Purina "Better With Pets" summit that we attended each year (I wish Purina would do another!). When I first attended, I felt sort of like an outsider at the Purina events. I don't consider myself a social media "influencer", because my blog is small potatoes compared to the "real" influencers there.
I was amongst some very popular influencers and it was intimidating! I am talking about people with literally millions of followers on social media. Even animals with their own Instagram accounts that are followed by pretty much everyone on the planet were there.
While I was probably standing alone looking awkward at some point, Jax kindly introduced himself and his wife, Lora. At the time, I didn't know who he was (I mostly followed people relating to health/fitness and his Instagram account contained solely photos of his dog), but I checked out his account later, and the pictures were SO GOOD.
Pet photography wasn't a "job" for him, but I told him he really ought to make it a full-time gig because he was so talented. I think people would pay a lot of money to get these kinds of photos of their pets! He and his wife made me feel much more comfortable about being at the summit, because they were genuine, friendly, all-around good people.
Here are a couple lots of my favorites photos from back then (you can find these and tons more on Instagram @thefugee):
A couple of years later, Jax picked up a new hobby--photographing action figures (yes, toys). When I saw the first few photos, I was completely amazed. Stunned. I had no idea that toy photography was even a "thing", but he was clearly very talented at that as well as the pet photography.
I will admit, I give no thought whatsoever to action figures and I never played with them when I was a kid. I also don't like Star Wars, comic books, or basketball; and Jax includes a lot of photos using these themes. However, it doesn't matter what the subject of his photos are--they are simply STUNNING, and I love seeing them in my Instagram feed. Here are a fewseveral a lot of my favorites:
Occasionally, he will post a "behind the scenes" video showing how he sets the photos up. As you can imagine, it's a big process!
His new toy photography Instagram account (@plasticaction) gained so many followers so quickly (which was no surprise, honestly) but Jax is literally one of the most humble and kind people I've ever met. I want to share a quick story before I finally get to the reason for posting all this.
One of Jax's earlier photos (from 2017) became my very favorite, not only because of the photo itself, but because of the story behind it. If you're into The Walking Dead, then you will like this (if not, you'll still like it, haha). As you may or may not know, the character from TWD who plays Daryl is Norman Reedus.
Jax set up a very cool photograph of an action figure of Daryl riding a motorcycle (I can't find the picture right now) and Norman Reedus actually posted it to his Instagram account to promote his new show! Awesome, right? Except that he didn't credit Jax for the photo, despite numerous comments from Jax's followers that he should credit the photographer.
Jax, being a stand-up guy, replied in a humorous way that I thought was best! If you watch The Walking Dead, then you'll understand this photo. Jax posted it to Instagram with the following caption:
"Last week, @bigbaldhead [Norman Reedus] posted one of my more popular photos to promote his new show but didn't credit me on that photo. Not cool. I'm not bitter or anything, but I've suddenly grown a fondness to Negan. He's my favorite. GO NEGAN!"
Yes, it's gory, but... Lucille.
(As a blogger, I totally understand how posting something without attribution can happen accidentally. I've shared things before where I don't know where it came from, and I do state so; however, if someone was to recognize it and ask for credit or ask me to remove it, I would do so immediately. When I've shared others' photos and I know who it comes from, I ask permission to post it.)
Maybe I should have saved that Walking Dead story for later, because it doesn't exactly tie in with what I'm about to write here (finally getting to the point). But I loved the way Jax responded and just had to share.
Anyway, other than bragging about Jax's photography, here is the purpose of this post. In his words:
"With the holidays coming up, I wanted to put together a campaign that would help some families in need. The money that you donate will go towards purchasing toys for families that are struggling this holiday season.
With your donations, I will personally be purchasing the toys and delivering them to the Toys for Joy organization in San Diego, California. Since I will be handling ALL the transactions for this campaign, you are going to know exactly where your donations are going. My goal is to spend $2,000 in toys through your donations!
Please join me on this campaign. Together we can create an abundance of joy for families who are struggling even if it's just for a day. Trust me when I say that your donation could be life changing. I was on the struggling side at one point in my life and those acts of kindness changed me forever."
Jax shared a story that was both heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time, which was the reason behind starting this campaign:
"My parents are a big inspiration when it comes to giving back. Even though they didn’t have a lot of money, I have memories of my dad writing checks out to the local church, various charities, and extended family in the Philippines. But, it was my mom that inspired me to start this campaign.
I will never forget the day I went to the department store with her to buy some necessities. As usual, we ended up in the toy isle, where I could only browse, because we typically couldn’t afford to buy anything. But that particular day, she let me choose something to buy. She probably sensed the overwhelming joy that I was feeling as I held and gazed over the huge Transformers box every kid would die for. I remember being the happiest kid in the world as I dragged that big ole box of greatness to the register.
After Mom handed her credit card for payment, I remember the word “declined” coming out of the cashier’s mouth. She tried at least two other cards, fumbling through her purse in desperation, looking for other means to pay.
I didn’t get to bring the Transformer home that day, or any other day for that matter. As disappointed as I was, I got over it and moved on pretty quickly. What I could NOT get over is the look on my mom’s face as we walked out the store. She was so ashamed that she couldn’t look at me. All she wanted to do was make her kid happy.
I wish I could have told her it was okay, that it wasn’t a big deal. The thought of how she felt that day breaks my heart. And so this campaign is in honor of my mother, Lourdes Navarro."
It's SO fun to think of the kids' faces as they receive the toys. I love that these were purchased personally by Jax with the thought and care of someone who enjoys toys himself! Jax's sister actually manages a Toys for Joy location, so it's nice to know that these toys are in good hands and we can see where the donations are going.
There are two ways you can donate to his campaign (the deadline is Wednesday the 11th, which is why I wanted to post this ASAP).
1) You can directly send money via PayPal, and 100% of it will go toward purchasing the toys (Jax will be personally picking them out--you can see his first trip to the store here on this video spending $1,000--half his goal. It's fun to watch!)
2) You can buy a print of one of his action figure photos (I bought the Jurassic Park one--my family loves Jurassic Park!). Here is the page where you can select a print to purchase, and 100% of the proceeds will go toward the toy campaign:
While I asked Jax's permission to share about the toy drive and his photos, I'm sure he is going to be humbly embarrassed at the extent I went to on this post! (Sorry, Jax). Haha, but I love what he is doing and I am happy to help however I can. I wanted to share it here in case you are feeling generous and want to donate toward toys for kids in need.
And also because Jax and Lora are two of the nicest people I've ever met ;) (Remember, the deadline is Wednesday.)
You can read more about Jax on his website. I'm sure you would enjoy following along with Jax's photography, so you can find him on Instagram at:
@thefugee (This account was started with photos of his dog, Fugee, who I shared photos of above. Fugee was a rescue dog and now has a couple of siblings who were rescued, too!)
@plasticaction (This account is where Jax shares his super talented photography of action toys!)
You can also check out his website at here at Plastic Action.
