ashrunsmountains-blog

[ashrunsmountains-blog]

hi friends!! really wishing I had more time to devote to this website but unfortunately it’s not a priority right now. I just wanted to drop by and post a few updates and let you guys know that I miss you!

- marathon training is in full swing! yesterday I ran the longest of my life thus far at 16 miles! training has been up and down but this run felt pretty good (and much better than 15 last weekend) but I’m beginning to notice how much of a commitment it is and some of the things I have to give up to squeeze in these runs. still feeling “out of shape” but my body is holding up well and I’m feeling thankful for rest days and long runs and everything in between

- school (aka the reason I don’t let myself go on here very much anymore) has been kinda chaotic but I’m loving my classes (mostly.) four days of missed class due to the hurricane led to a very chaotic past week trying to make everything up, but I’m genuinely enjoying most of what I’m learning and at this point I’ve been good at staying on top of everything so I can’t complain. I’ve joined some clubs, have met a lot of great people, and even got selected to be a recruitment ambassador! very very excited to represent this incredible program

- sometimes I get so caught up in the grind of due dates and studying and schedules that I forgot I’m pretty much living my dream right now. I was driving back after an afternoon with my best friend when I was hit with an intense wave of gratitude and disbelief. I’m going to my dream school for my dream job, I’m surrounded by amazing and supportive people, im able to train for a marathon - so many things I never would have thought possible not that long ago

- I absolutely love where I live, seriously it’s great, but I’m missing the mountains and trails so so so much. I recently listened to the I’ll have another podcast with Jackie Merritt (also found out she went to JMU so that’s super cool!!) and it really sparked something in me that I need to get back to that. I spent like two hours this morning reading through old trail runner mag articles and the thought of running ultras and just more trails in general is really calling to me. I’m loving training for this road marathon and I know it will be very beneficial to me, but I can’t wait until I can focus on trails. very very seriously considering running a trail marathon in December (Michael Wardian will be there what!!!) and gradually transitioning to longer distances if that goes well. I honestly have no idea what I’m doing but I’m very excited to do it!!

realisticslly I probably won’t be on here very much throughout the semester, but I’m on instagram @ash.lovelace if you’d like to follow along

[ashrunsmountains-blog]

hi friends, I’ve been in asheville for the weekend. I had an incredible time, but unfortunately my phone has been water-damaged and i’ve lost pretty much all of my pictures. currently hoping that rice will work a miracle, but if anyone has any ideas for how to access any photos from my dead device that would be much appreciated. i was completely unaware that I had to actually back up those photos and they didn’t automatically sync with my apple ID. 

I’m hoping to be a little more active soon, but classes are starting and i’m feeling very unprepared.

[ashrunsmountains-blog]

gratitude is a magnet for wonderful things

[ashrunsmountains-blog]

“So, what if, instead of thinking about solving your whole life, you just think about adding additional good things. One at a time. Just let your pile of good things grow.”

— Rainbow Rowell, Attachments (via wnq-writers)

[ashrunsmountains-blog]

[ashrunsmountains-blog]

last night i had some amazing uttapam, chaat fries, and mango lassi at the cutest little Indian place (thanks @musingsoflulu for the suggestion!) and promptly fell asleep at 9. finally, finally had a breakthrough long run this morning after a couple weeks of really difficult saturday mornings. almost all of the run was very enjoyable, super smooth, and my pace was a little faster than expected. I've been having some doubts, but now I actually feel capable of getting to that starting line and running 26.2 in november

[ashrunsmountains-blog]

i cant believe how disconcertingly easy it is to just… decide to be fearless. and suddenly you’re surprising urself in a good way. bravery isn’t an emotion or trait as much as the absence of unconsciousness shackling

[ashrunsmountains-blog]

breakfast for dinner is truly one of life's greatest pleasures

- made cinnamon protein waffles, cheesy hash browns, and avo toast for the roomies tonight and we've just been studying for our two finals tomorrow

- also went to run club at 6 this morning and I've never really ran with more than two people but I had a great time and seeing the sunrise as we ran through downtown/campus was a great start to the day

[ashrunsmountains-blog]

Skyline Trail

Mount Rainier National Park

[ashrunsmountains-blog]

… in 79 days I’ll be running 50 kilometers here?!

[ashrunsmountains-blog]

physically im in my bedroom but mentally im on an island in greece singing abba 

[ashrunsmountains-blog]

“We run, not because we think it is doing us good, but because we enjoy it and cannot help ourselves…The more restricted our society and work become, the more necessary it will be to find some outlet for this craving for freedom. No one can say, ‘You must not run faster than this, or jump higher than that.’ The human spirit is indomitable.”

—Sir Roger Bannister, first runner to run a sub-4 minute mile

[ashrunsmountains-blog]

midweek runs are getting longer, days are getting busier; ready to embrace this season of fullness

[ashrunsmountains-blog]

[ashrunsmountains-blog]

monday calls for comfort food

dal with naan & greek yogurt with almond butter granola, dark chocolate, and chia seeds

[ashrunsmountains-blog]

Pretty ideal morning I’d say 🍂🍁

[ashrunsmountains-blog]

me: I love waking up early, having a nice slow morning while enjoying my breakfast and tea, not having to rush

also me: *sets alarm for ten minutes before I have to leave*