Blog — Little Miss Runshine

Little Miss Runshine

Using NURVV Run to Inform My Running Form

Using NURVV Run to Inform My Running Form

Years ago I went to the Spaulding National Running Center to help with my hip issues. They helped me transform my running form and get me back to running.

If you have been following my running journey, you know that I’ve been struggling with plantar fasciitis lately. I believe it was a result of running too fast and too much volume during my CIM training cycle. I took about 3 months of a break from running but couldn’t wait to get back. I’ve been building my base and listening to my body. My foot feels pretty good but will have some flair ups sometimes.

FitnessJessica MillerMay 12, 2020RunningComment

CIM 2019 Race Recap

CIM 2019 Race Recap

I set a few goals going into this race…A - 3:30, B - 3:35, C - 3:40 and D - finish injury free.

I ended up running a 3:49:44. This is 19:44 from my A goal and about 14 minutes from my last marathon, Chicago 2018. For those of you who aren’t runners-that is kind of a big difference. While I know my time is still a great time, it can be disappointing when you feel so far from your A goal.

FitnessJessica MillerDecember 10, 2019marathon, race Comment

CIM 2019 Race Goals

CIM 2019 Race Goals

This coming Sunday I will be running California International Marathon (CIM). My plantar fasciitis is not 100% healed but it is not terrible or getting worse. I’ve been able to complete my training so my plan is to try to run the race and then focus on recovery so I can enter my next training cycle with zero pain.

FitnessJessica MillerDecember 1, 2019marathonComment

Garmin Venu Review

Garmin Venu Review

As I mentioned, I’ve been running with a Garmin ever since my first marathon back in 2009. My first watch was the Forerunner 405 which was pretty darn bulky. I’ve had a few upgrades since then but when the Apple Watch came out I was tempted to get it. The screen had better graphics and it was less bulky. However, I feel that the Garmin data is more reliable. Lately I’ve been loving my Fenix 6 despite it still feeling a little bigger than my ideal size.

FitnessJessica MillerNovember 25, 2019Garmin Comment

Baystate Half Marathon 2019 Recap

Baystate Half Marathon 2019 Recap

Let’s just start with…WHY am I standing on Dave’s foot in this photo?! Not quite sure what is going on there! Anyway…we ran the Baystate Half Marathon this morning and it was so much fun! I was a bit nervous of how it would go given my plantar fasciitis but I’ve been really good about icing, rolling on the Foot Rubz ball, and foam rolling every day and wanted to see how it went.

FitnessJessica MillerOctober 20, 2019half marathon, raceComment

Pumpkin Spice Overnight Oats

Pumpkin Spice Overnight Oats

I love cooking and baking but sometimes I don’t want to make time for it.

One of my go-to easy breakfast and/or snacks is overnight oats! For those of you who aren’t familiar with overnight oats, it is SO easy! You could even heat them up if you actually prefer heated oatmeal. The steps are the following…

FoodJessica MillerOctober 19, 2019recipeComment

Is the Garmin Training Status Accurate?

Is the Garmin Training Status Accurate?

I’m a data nerd and one of the reasons I love my Garmin is to see how accurate the data is that it is collecting.

Race prediction times have been a feature of Garmin for some time now. Unfortunately, I don’t really have much faith in these predictions. According to the data in the past, I should have be able to run ~3:11 marathon which would be lovely but not realistic for my fitness level at that time. Even if the data is not so accurate, I like to see how the data improves and use it to inform my training. It’s like energy modeling, you really look at the relative change, not the exact numbers.

FitnessJessica MillerSeptember 23, 2019Running, marathon, Technology, Garmin Comments

CIM 2019 Training Update - September

CIM 2019 Training Update - September

I’ve been using the Hal Higdon Advanced 2 training program and it’s week 7 out of 18 for CIM. It had been going really well until this week when my right foot, ankle and hip started to feel really inflamed and sore. I have decided to take a few days rest. I am really disappointed because I was really looking forward to my training runs this weekend. I had an 8 mile pace run and a 16 miler - the highest mileage run this training so far.

FitnessJessica MillerSeptember 21, 2019Running, marathonComment

Scandinavian Cruise Day 1: London and boarding the ship

Scandinavian Cruise Day 1: London and boarding the ship

TravelJessica MillerAugust 6, 2019

Scandinavia, Russia & Amsterdam: Ultimate Baltic Sea Cruise

Scandinavia, Russia & Amsterdam: Ultimate Baltic Sea Cruise

Back in 2014 Dave and I went on an Alaskan cruise with his brother, parents and aunt. We had a great time and thought a cruise was definitely the way to see Alaska. However, we didn’t really think we’d go on another cruise. We thought wrong because this is clearly a cruise.

TravelJessica MillerAugust 1, 2019Comment

2019 Race Calendar

2019 Race Calendar

I have decided to pick one goal race for the year and really focus on that training. The other races will be tune-up races to supplement training or just for fun. I have a lot of base building and strength to work on. I plan on using Hal Higdon’s Personal Best 30 week marathon training program which would have week 1 start the week of May 20th. Since this is a long program, I may adjust my race plan as needed.

FitnessJessica MillerApril 28, 2019RunningComment

Just Because I'm a "Runner", Doesn't Mean Running is Easy

Just Because I'm a "Runner", Doesn't Mean Running is Easy

Some people think, “She’s a runner, so she loves every run and it’s easy”. That is not true at all. Running has been difficult both physically and mentally lately and I’ve had my share of those times in my past.

FitnessJessica MillerMarch 24, 2019RunningComment

I Just Registered for California International Marathon (CIM) 2019

I Just Registered for California International Marathon (CIM) 2019

Sometimes I choose a marathon based on location and others it may be on timing. For my 2019 marathon, I had a few different criteria…

FitnessJessica MillerMarch 16, 2019marathonComment

4 Reasons Why I Love Equinox

4 Reasons Why I Love Equinox

I remember when I first started my job back in 2008, I was looking for a gym and thought that Equinox was really unrealistic and I would never find myself working out there. When I was in the thick of marathon training, an expensive gym didn’t seem like a good investment.

FitnessJessica MillerMarch 16, 2019EquinoxComment

My 2019 Running Goal

My 2019 Running Goal

I am registered for LA marathon this month but I am not running. After Chicago Marathon I was pretty busy at work and wasn’t running much during the week yet I would still try to get long runs in with Dave (8-12ish miles).

FitnessJessica MillerMarch 9, 2019RunningComment

Cookie Dough Cupcakes

Cookie Dough Cupcakes

I find baking relaxing and a nice way to make people happy. I often like to bake for my coworkers and am a sucker for anything cookie dough. So…sorry coworkers…you are going to eat these cookie dough cupcakes.

FoodJessica MillerMarch 9, 2019cupcakes

PB+J Protein Smoothie

PB+J Protein Smoothie

Smoothies are expensive. I am not proud that I have spent $14 on a large smoothie but sometimes I use them as motivation to accomplish goals or just to make life easier.

FoodJessica MillerMarch 9, 2019smoothieComment

I’ve Started Working with a Career Coach

I’ve Started Working with a Career Coach

My company was acquired at the beginning of 2019 and there have been changes in how my company functions and the structure. A colleague of mine was doing some research on what it meant to be an Associate and he was asking me what my thoughts were as an Associate.

CareerJessica MillerMarch 9, 2019Comment