Hi! How are you? I made a video to share a little insight on my running life. I got a question asking if I plan to try and PR or BQ and the timing is perfect because I’ve been looking into getting a running coach. But I wanted to address why I kind of fell off the PR running wagon for a while. It’s just my side of a complicated story so I made it a vlog because it was easier to explain that way.
Before we go there I want to share my favorite person, eats and race good luck…
It’s Mikk’s birthday. I love her so much. She gives me two thumbs up (if I ask). I’m her Nina and she’s my favorite.
I keep forgetting to blog about these pumpkin cookies. They are so good! I need to stop eating them and start writing about ‘em.
Good luck to everyone running the Marine Corps Marathon this weekend! It was one of my favorite races ever! The crowds are awesome. Running around the landmarks in DC is amazing. It’s so patriotic and reminds you to feel proud to be American. Enjoy it and have fun!!
(If you are running MCM this weekend here are my tips for the race. )
VLOG – Why I Gave Up on Running Faster (for a while)
I made a video because it’s kind of a long story of how… I was trying to qualify for the Boston Marathon, but I failed and then something happened that made me stop trying to run fast for a while. (It wasn’t an injury or health issue but knocked me down just as hard.)
My personal life affected my running because it was such a big deal. Everything changed the day after a marathon and then I used running to help me cope. This is just my side of the story so I kept it brief, but it had a big impact on my running. I’m totally open to talking about it, but I want navigate this in a way that’s fair for both Ben and myself. I might need some grace in figuring that out. Thank you.
Now let’s talk about my running plans going forward!!!
Things mentioned in the video:
OC Marathon Results / Recap (2013)
Santa Rosa Marathon Results / Recap
Ventura Marathon Results / Recap
Me not knowing what to say after the break
Thank you for sharing. We are all dealing with challenges and it is helpful to learn how others navigate them. I enjoy your blog and getting glimpses into your personal life. Keep up the great work!
I have been reading your blog on and off for years. I only recently started blogging myself. I really appreciate the transparency in the VLOG. I think that you can definitely BQ if you want to. Running can be whatever we need it to be and that can look different during different seasons of life! I’m sorry that you have been through some tough times, but I’m sure that you have learned a lot about yourself and I bet that you are a stronger and better person because of it. P.S. If you still need a coach, I coach distance runners 🙂
You’re so genuine and I look forward to reading your posts, thank you. I’m in a similar situation where I’m the one who wants the kids now and it’s a hard issue to work out timing that fits both. Life is so imperfect but focusing on the present is important, good luck with your BQ goal, can’t wait to see you reach it! I’m in a funk with my running right now, can’t seem to find the motivation anymore, any tips on how to find that desire again? I’m not a goals person tho & look at running as a way to just exercise and have fun.
Thanks so much for being so real. I love your blog and you motivate me to run more, faster and harder than anyone! We all go through personal stuff and I appreciate you filling us in. I will run my first marathon one day thanks to you! 🙂
Thank you for sharing this with us. I don’t comment much but had to this time. We’re all rooting for you – whatever that means: BQ, baby, Ben. You’ll know when you’re ready for baby – it will become your obsession and all you can think about. In the meantime you have to chase your dreams and balance that with relationships so that you aren’t always asking yourself “what if??” in any area of your life. Hugs to you!
Appreciate your sharing this part of your life with us. Can’t wait to hear about your training with your new coach. Your blog is one I look forward to reading daily.
Thank you Gail 🙂
Yes!! I’m so excited for this new chapter. I need some serious running motivation and following along with you as you move through your training to reach this goal will be so inspiring. Can’t wait!!!
Thanks Kelly!
Thank you so much for sharing! I love your blog and funny instagram posts!
Thank you 🙂 Instagram is my favorite.
Wow, you are brave! I don’t think I could ever share such personal stuff. I look forward to reading/watching about your PR goals and how you go about achieving them. You will certainly get there. Best of luck…
Thanks it’s definitely hard to walk the line of what to share. I appreciate you reading 🙂
Thanks for sharing. I am in the midst of a similar life change just as I decided to try for a half marathon. How much time passed between your peak and getting back to hard training? And how much time/progress did you lose? I find myself doing nothing but “fun runs” because it feels better to zone out and listen to my music than to watch the clock.
I really have let it go for a long time so I want to say about 2 years. I don’t think that much time was necessary at all though – a lot of random things factored into it (like my best running friend moving away too). I would make sure your mental/emotional health is the priority first. But if you’re in a good place OR just feel ready to train – go for it 🙂
Good luck on the BQ journey. I’m nowhere close right now but maybe someday! I never thought I’d do a marathon, or I’d be a one and done. I’ve now done 6. I never thought I’d do an Ironman and I’m signed up in April. Endorphins make you do crazy ish. 🙂
Good luck!!!! That is really awesome 🙂
Thanks for your open and honest blog. I can totally relate to how life and running can get thrown upside down. I’m also excited about your new challenge. I have a question for you. I have run 5 half marathons and swore I would never do a full. Well guess what…..I’m kinda thinking I will now. :). I’d like your advice. If you were planning on training for your very first marathon and it could be anywhere in the US, which one would you choose?
Thanks!!!
If I was training/planning my first marathon… I would run it either close by home so I was in familiar territory with what I was eating and the weather OR run it somewhere epic like DisneyWorld.
I’ve been reading your blog through it all. I just re-read your “how I’m dealing” and “good news bad news” posts and read my comments on them.
Ideally we would expect all relationships to follow those traditional guidelines but no matter how perfect a fit 2 people are and how much they think they can handle anything there’s always something that becomes almost too much to bear.
Most important 2 things to remember. 1. Love is powerful… and 2. Every decision is temporary. There is always the possibility of change.
All the best to you and I REALLY REALLY hope you enjoy the process of getting a coach and shooting for a BQ again.
Thank you Sally. I really appreciate all your comments. I feel like we really know each other 🙂
Thank you for sharing this with us all.
Runners don’t often talk about how hard our commitment to running can be on the people around us. Between working a full time job and being a mom, a wife, AND a runner, there are never enough hours in the day. I try to schedule my runs so that I don’s miss out on time with the kids – because of school, activities, and they fact that they are in bed by 8pm, I often run after they go to bed. My hubs is super awesome when it comes to my need to run and race, but there are some times where he feels like I am choosing running over spending time with him. It’s tough.
Wow…Thanks for sharing that with us, Monica…Of course I never knew the “why” behind your’s and Ben’s separation and that’s so hard to hear – sounds so tough to navigate and I really hope you guys are finding a middle road – always makes me happy when I see your pics and posts of the two of you together. 🙂 Life is messy, isn’t it?! I’m walking through some messy things too!
I think it’s so okay that you were using running just as therapy – it’s so good for that! – and how neat that now you’re looking to re-engage with running in a new, focused way! Thanks for sharing your journey and keep enjoying those miles,
Bon
PS – remember that one time you and Tina and I ran 10 miles in Philly at the Healthy Living Summit?! I felt like I was running with celebrities… 😀
I totally remember running with you! I see your IG and think we are friends for sure. I know you’re having some trials too. Stay strong and positive in faith. I appreciate you chiming in 🙂
Thanks for your kind words! Yes, struggling in my own way, too. Everyone is always walking through something, aren’t they? I consider you a friend for sure! And you make me miss my OG home, California (even though I’m from the Bay and we know CA is like two separate states, lol!). 😉 Always love seeing tidbits of your life and read daily even if I don’t always comment. 🙂
Thanks for the update! Good luck on the BQ! I do have a question though, you talk a lot about getting a BQ… once you get it, do you plan to actually run Boston?
Yes, I would love to run it after I qualify! But I realize I might not actually get in if I barely qualify (the race sells out even for people that qualify and registration is open first for the fastest times). So I’m just focused on qualifying first and then figuring that out.
Where you able to work things out with your husband? Wondering how you worked through having a goal that conflicted with one of his goals? I think this issue is common in a lot of marriage and something we could learn from. Understand that is a very personal topic, so please don’t feel like you have the tell more if you would prefer not to.
We are going to therapy and trying to figure out how to navigate this super big issue. We definitely don’t have it down yet, but I’m open to talking about it.
Thank you for sharing. Sorry it worked out that way. I’m excited for you trying to BQ . Your IG is great by the way
I’m excited to read about your BQ journey. I’m a few minutes off the BQ standard and I’m trying to get there too. I also want to try for a baby soon, so i’m running out of time. For me, a baby trumps running, but it would be great to have it all!
YES! Having it all would be great! Good luck to you with all of it 🙂
Thank you for being so open! Now that you have decided to try to BQ again, did you and Ben decide to put off kids for a while?
Not really, we’re still trying to figure out what to do and how to do it regarding babies and our relationship in general. Everything that happened really damaged our relationship so it’s a work in progress. But I don’t want to wait to run hard and train because there is that question mark in my personal life.
I discovered your blog just a little while ago, but so appreciate your humor and openness!
You rock!
Thank you Susie! You rock too 🙂
Thank you for your honesty! I think you are at your best when you are authentic and share a little more of your personal life. I think that is a tough road to navigate for sure! I find that I run more now after having kids because it is the best ME time. I hope you guys figure out what is best for you 🙂 And I hope we get to see some little red head curly haired cuties running around sometime on the blog with you!!
Thank you. It’s weird, but I do enjoy sharing my personal life/thoughts and I think you all like it more than the other stuff 🙂 It’s just hard to know how much to share. I don’t know if I could actually handle a mini-Monican or mini-Ben but I would love to try 🙂
I totally love the running stuff too 🙂
So, no kids?
When I read the title, I thought you wrote “Why I stopped trying to BBQ” and thought, why is she doing a VLOG for that?
Ha! No I’m all about BBQs!
Omg haha i read that too!
Totally read “BBQ” at first too!
So many things to say! I’m sorry all of that is hard and yes running is absolutely therapy. I think it’s why even though I probably need time off for my hormones, i don’t know how to totally pull back. And YES even as a coach, having a coach is what makes it possible to push through those hard parts.
adore you
Thanks so much for sharing your story with all of us! I can’t wait to follow along on this next chapter with you!
Ps- don’t worry about Vegas throwing shade. He thinks he’s better than all of us!! 😉
Hi Monica,
I am a long time reader and lurker. I just wanted to thank you for sharing yourself and your raw honesty and realness. Life is never candy coated and you being the real YOU is why I continue to read your blog. So thank you and good luck on your new journey!
P.S. Thank you for making me laugh my a$$ daily on IG too! 😉
Thank you Sarah 🙂