New Year, Same Me - with a few updates

Like many people, I welcomed the start of the new year with open arms. 2020 was tumultuous, painful, and lonely, and while 2021 will be far from easy, I am entering the new year feeling hopeful.

Here’s a rapid recap of my 2020, and a few updates for 2021:

I started off the year having my best marathon build-up to date - healthy training, strong long runs, fast workouts. I entered the 2020 Olympic Trials Marathon in February feeling fit, confident, and ready for a top 10 performance and a personal best. Alas, neither of those goals came to fruition; in the first mile of the race, on an overly crowded course riddled with potholes, I got tripped and fell to the ground. I was trampled by the stampede of women running behind me (yes it was just as scary as it sounds), but I got back up again, running on adrenaline, and made my way back to the front back. Unfortunately, the injuries I suffered resulted in me having to drop out of the race just before halfway. It was a heartbreaking end to my Olympic Trials marathon, but I quickly pivoted to focus on April’s Boston Marathon.

Little did I know that “pivot” would become an oh-so-important word in 2020. The pandemic forced us to pivot again and again and again, as the world locked down, races were cancelled, training plans paused, goals on hold. There would be no in-person Boston Marathon in 2020, and the Track & Field Olympic Trials, in which I’d hoped to compete in the 10,000 meters, was moved to summer 2021.

So, I spent the rest of 2020 training for life, for me. I ran on the trails, did solo workouts, explored, and went on joyful adventure runs around Massachusetts. While others chose to compete in pop-up races that emerged in the late summer and fall, I decided against racing due to concerns about COVID and the ever-rising number of cases and deaths.

Aftermath of getting trampled during the Olympic Trials Marathon

My contract with the Boston Athletic Association and Adidas ended at the end of December. I’m grateful for my 2.5 years representing the BAA and for their support during injury; without it, I’m not sure I would have been able to make a return to elite running after a devastating injury. Wearing the BAA uniform, I PRed in the half marathon and won the Naples Half Marathon, ran my first World Marathon Majors in the pro field at NYC Marathon, finished top 10 at the Bolder Boulder international team challenge, and competed in my 4th Olympic Trials event. As we move into 2021, I’m running unattached and am excited for new opportunities. Just might have to make a Running Joyfully jersey to race in ;-) I look forward to competing in another marathon once I’m vaccinated.

Also in 2021, I’m excited to use my public health degree - I am working in health policy, supporting state Medicaid agencies, departments of health, state-based health insurance marketplaces, and hospital networks. My work is focused on improving access to care and addressing social determinants of health. I am also spending more time on the nonprofit I founded, Safe on the Road, advocating for safer streets for pedestrians and cyclists. Finally, I’m continuing to coach runners at Running Joyfully - coaching is one of my greatest passions and post-COVID, I cannot wait to see my athletes in person again and hug them!!

Looking forward to vaccination rollouts, safer and more equitable streets, joyful runs, and a return to racing in 2021!

Snowy joyful exploration run in Middlesex Fells Reservation outside of Boston

Runner Recipes - Oatmeal Apple Banana Muffins

Hello from the start of Month 3 of dealing with the COVID-19 Pandemic… such uncertain times we’re living in. With more time on my hands as I’m staying at home (as I hope you are too!), I decided to do some Quarantine Baking and got creative in the kitchen. These Oatmeal Apple Banana Muffins are quick, easy, healthy, and the star ingredient is from one of my favorite food companies, Picky Bars! I paired two muffins with a yogurt to refuel after my run today; they make a great mid-morning snack to hold you over between meals.

I had to get creative with this recipe based on what I had in my kitchen, since my grocery store trips are few and far between these days. After an omelet brunch this weekend, I didn’t have any eggs on hand, so that’s where the applesauce came in - and it was a great compliment to the apple-heavy Picky Oats. If you don’t have Picky Oats, you can use plain rolled oats, but I would recommend then adding in 1/2 cup of finely chopped almonds, 1/4 cup of chia seeds, and 3/4 cup of dried fruit of choice — because the tasty ingredients in the Picky Oats are what make these muffins shine. Happy baking!

Muffin mix ready for the oven

Ingredients
1 banana, mashed
1 cup of applesauce
1/4 cup of honey
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp baking powder
1 Tbsp ground cinnamon
3 cups of Picky Oats How ‘bout Dem Apples (rolled oats, almonds, chia seeds, dates, dried apples, coconut sugar, sea salt, cinnamon, ginger)
1/2 cup light unsweetened coconut milk
1 cup of dried cranberries

Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Line a 12-muffin muffin tin with parchment paper or coat with nonstick spray.
3. In a large bowl, mash banana with a fork and then mix in the applesauce, vanilla extract, and honey.
4. In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients (oats, baking powder, cinnamon).
5. Add the dry ingredients to the banana/applesauce mixture; stir well.
6. Add the coconut milk and dried cranberries and mix well; add additional coconut milk for more moist muffins.
7. Divide oat mixture evenly into the muffin tin.
8. Bake for 25 minutes, or until the top of the muffins are golden brown and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Enjoy!

Muffins fresh out of the oven and ready to eat!