Personalized run coaching and nutrition coaching for endurance athletes of all abilities. Optimize your health and performance!

Katie Kissane has a diverse experience as a runner and endurance athlete. She has dedicated many years to endurance sports. As a sports dietitian she provides an individualized approach to help her clients improve both performance and health.

About Katie

An athlete's full potential will not be realized without proper training, recovery, AND nutrition. Nutrition is key to peak performance, sustained energy, maximized recovery, health, and longevity, and the prevention of both disease and injury.

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I have been focusing a lot on speed since my marathon in May. In fact, I've run a 5k, mile race on the track, and most recently, a mile road race. I was able to run a 5:26 (gun time and probably slightly faster if you count chip time). I was super happy with this time since I've never been a speed demon (half marathon distance might be where my skills are). It has also been so much fun to focus on going fast and a welcome break from the grind of marathon training.

Why do I think it is important to take a break from marathon training to focus on speed? Because I believe the faster your top end speed is for sprinting or the faster you can run in a race like the mile or 5k, the faster you can run a marathon. Not only does marathon pace feel easy after training for speed, but it also helps with running eonomy, neuromuscular efficiency, and possibly lactate clearance into the bloodstream. As I mentioned before, at the very least, it offers a welcome change of pace from the marathon, which helps prevent burnout.

Thanks @greeneventscolorado for a great race!

#mountainavenuemile #fortcollinsrunning #fortcollinsrunningclub #motherrunner #runningdietitian #marathoner #runningafter40 #runningcoach #fortcollinsracing #lovethegrind

Happy global running day! While I'm glad to celebrate running today, I'm including pictures from the past year of running, including the hot days of August and brutal cold in February.

Here is to running when nobody is watching and running when many others prefer to stay inside.

Here is to running with friends and racing with the guys.

Here is to 30 years of running! This sport has given me so much, and I can only hope I can continue to give back to the sport and be an inspiration for others.

I don't know if I'll be able to run for another 30 years, but I'll take what I can get.

#globalrunningday #keeprunning #mastersrunner #runningafter40 #runninginspiration

Vermont City Marathon race recap part 2. I mentioned in my first race recap that once the race started, time seemed to slow down. Usually, during a marathon, the first several miles seem to go by quickly. However, for this marathon, it felt like the first several miles dragged on a bit. It didn't feel hard, and the pace felt okay, but I think my lack of sleep was causing it to feel mentally harder.

By mile 8 or 9, I was in a groove and still felt good overall. I was able to get my bottle at mile 4 and 7, and my fueling was on schedule. I came into the halfway point around 1:27:45. I was on my goal pace, but my legs started to feel heavy, and my right hamstring and calf started to act up a bit (an old issue I've been dealing with). I pushed on and continued to stay on schedule with fueling. My pace started to slow at around mile 14 or 15. I was just trying to stay in the game physically and mentally.

At mile 16, my gut started to feel a little off, and, unfortunately, by mile 17, I knew i wasn't going to make it to the end without stopping to use the Porter potty. I am not sure if not being able to do that last minute potty break before the marathon would have prevented this, but it was frustrating either way. So I went as quickly as possible, and 30 seconds later, I was back and on pace. I felt much better at this point. I pushed through the hills at around miles 19 and 20 and then hung on knowing I had 6 miles remaining.

My pace was slower, and I knew my A goal of 2:55-2:57 was out, but I was hanging on for a sub 2:59. Unfortunately, the potty break and slowing pace got me in the end, and I was only 3 seconds shy of sub 2:59. I am very happy with how I was able to hang on until the end, and I am also very happy with being able to run the same exact time of 2:59:02 15 years later at the age of 42. A PR would have been great, but I am happy with a 73-second improvement from NYC and a masters win.

Now I get to rest and spend time with family. I have to try really hard to not immediately start thinking about what is next and just enjoy this moment for a little longer.

#mastersrunner #runningafter40 #vermontcitymarathon2025 #marathon #motherrunner #runner

I'm finally ready for my #vermontcitymarathon2025 race recap. So here is recap part 1. I needed some time to reflect on the race. It was a great day, but to be honest, I'm still a little disappointed. It wasn't the magic marathon I was hoping for where everything aligns for a perfect race. That's the hardest thing about the marathon. It's so hard to get everything perfect. For this race, I trained really well, my taper was good, and the weather was perfect. So why didn't I feel phenomenal? It is hard to know for sure, but, unfortunately, my sleep leading up to the race was less than ideal.

I am sure many other perimenopause runners can relate, but sleep got harder when I hit 40. It's a battle for me at certain times of the month, and it just so happened this time hit right before my race. It's frustrating! So combine this with race anxiety and time changes, and it becomes tricky. I slept not great, but not terrible on Thursday and Friday. I was mostly just having a hard time falling asleep and staying asleep. I was so hopeful I would sleep well on race night, but after 2.5 hours of sleep, I was wide awake in a panic, worrying about my race the next day. Then, my mind kept going to what I knew about poor sleep and performance and perception of exertion. It was a bad cycle that kept me up until I finally got out of bed before 5 am.

So I had only one choice, and that was to stay positive and remember that a few nights of poor sleep can't totally unravel months of hard training. I also felt surprisingly okay that morning. So I ate my pre-race breakfast, and we were off to the race start in Burlington. I did my usual bathroom break and 5 minutes of super easy jogging. I had to be at the start by 7:05 and by this point the lines for the bathrooms were long so I didn't have time to go to the bathroom before the race (which may have got me later on).

By the time I was at the race start line, I felt calm and ready to go. The race started, and I felt comfortable for a while, but time seemed to slow down. Stay tuned for more in part 2!

#momrunner #runningafter40 #runnerthings
#marathon #marathonrunner #mastersrunner

Same exact time, but 15 years later. It's not old, just older (and wiser). How did I run the same time at 42 vs. 27? Better race strategy, better nutrition, smart training, and a continued passion for a sport that I love. I know that if I had run a smarter race and fueled better in 2010, my time would have been faster, but there is something to be said for experience. After years of experience (about 30 to be exact), I am finally starting to master the sport of running.

#marathontraining #marathoner #runningafter40 #runningnutrition #runningcoach #marathon #vermontcitymarathon #runner

I finished another marathon! And not just any marathon, this marathon is near and dear to my heart. I grew up in Essex, Vermont, and this is my third #vermontcitymarathon and my fastest time so far. I had a 4ish second PR. I was hoping for a slightly faster time, but I'm not complaining. The last time I ran a 2:59 was 15 years ago at the same race in 2010. I'm just so thankful I'm still out there doing what I love. I was the first female masters runner, too! I'll share more about the race later, but for now, I'm just relaxing with my family. Thanks, @runvermont, for a great race! It's so great to be back in Vermont and back at the marathon 🙌

#vermontcitymarathon2025 #marathon #mastersrunner #motherrunner #runningdietitian #marathoner #fortcollinsrunning #fortcollinsrunningclub #runningcoach #runnermom

Here we go! Bottles are ready, and I have my bib all set. I'm all ready to rum tomorrow's #vermontcitymarathon2025

Now I just need to eat some dinner and try to get some 😴 @runvermont

Ice baths or the cold plunge. People either live them or hate them. Are they good for recovery? There is evidence it can blunt the training response, but I think they can be a great tool if used strategically.

How do I use them? I rarely do them on a hard training day or a day in which I'm looking for some sort of adaptation from training due to how the cold can decrease inflammation (which is an acute and normal response to training). However, when I have a few recovery/easier days and a hard training session coming up (for instance, a long run in a few days), I think it is a helpful recovery tool. I also do a cold bath the day after a massage followed by a hot shower to get the blood flowing. It seems to be really helpful. I also rarely do a full plunge but mostly focus on my lower body. Therefore, this is not a true cold plunge.

What are your thoughts on ice baths? Do you use them in training?

#recoveryfromtraining #icebath #icebathrecovery #mastersrunner #marathontraining #runningcoach #runnerthings

Before my longer workouts or harder sessions, I will do a dynamic warmup consisting of some plyometric movements. This is my go-to dynamic warm-up. This helps warm up the muscles and get the body ready to do some work. The key is to do enough to get warmed up, but not too much. It's probably best to start with fewer sets or reps if you are not used to this. Also, if you are not used to box jumps, just do step ups and weightless jump squats to start. I also like jumping lunges as an addition to or instead of the skips or squats.

#dynamicwarmup #plyometrics #mastersrunner #runcoach #runningafter40 #trainsmarter #marathontraining

I've been putting in the work, and when I'm grinding, I often forget to share too much. It's mostly that I love the process of training and don't feel the need to share for external validation or motivation. Perhaps I should share more, but that's kind of uncomfortable for me. Anyway, here I am 4 weeks into a tough marathon training block with one week of hard training remaining before I start to taper off.

Last Sunday, I did a half marathon as part of my long run (thanks @breakaway_athletic_events). The goal was to run most of it at marathon pace. It went okay, but not perfect. I also did a double threshold workout on Tuesday and only allowed 3 days of what I call a "mini taper" before the race. This is all after 3 consecutive 75-mile weeks, which, for me, is a lot.

Marathon training is this constant balance between training and recovery. If you want to run well, you need to feel some fatigue and push through, but too much is bad. It's hard to get perfect. What most people don't see (unless they follow me on strava) are all the runs I do at 9-10 min pace. This is a lesson I've learned. Make the quality sessions count and take the easy days as slow as I need (often sticking to my zone-2 pace). This, along with strength training, helps my 40 something year old self maintain 75-mile weeks without over-training or exacerbating my autoimmune condition. I wish I had done this 13 years ago when training for CIM. It would have saved me a lot of pain, and maybe I wouldn't have ended up triggering my Hashimoto's thyroiditis (that's a story for another day).

#marathontraining #mastersrunner #hashimotos #vermontcitymarathon #runnermom #runningafter40 #runningdietitian #autoimmunethyroid #motherrunner #vermontcitymarathon2025 #runningwithhashimotos

I am 7 weeks away from the Vermont City Marathon, and I'm deep into my last marathon training build with 75 miles completed this week. These are some things I've been including in my training plan (in addition to all the others things-strength, zone 2, long runs, and intervals) that have made a big difference for me. This includes short hill sprints (8 to 12 seconds all out), strides (20 seconds as fast as possible while maintaining form), and skipping (just add this into daily runs or as part of my warm up).

I have to admit the skipping has been interesting, and I don't think I'm that good at it. They remind me of my childhood and are actually quite fun. Just don't overdo them if you have not been skipping. I made this mistake before my half marathon a few weeks ago, and my hamstrings were a little sensitive.

#hillsprints #strides #skiptorunfast #skipping #marathontraining #mastersrunner #runningafter40 #vermontcitymarathon #vermontcitymarathon2025 #motherrunner

Like mother, like son? I have been revisiting my knowledge in the strength and conditioning space with the eventual goal in obtaining my CSCS (certified strength and conditioning specialist). Last night before bed I was reading the Starting Strength book and Strength Training Anatomy, and my son started looking at the anatomy book and was super interested in the muscles and all of the different strength movements. He spent close to 30 minutes looking through the book.

He has also been wanting to do "workouts" with me. Maybe a future athlete? It really goes to show that our kids are constantly watching us and observing what we are doing, so be a good role model!

#startingstrength #stengthtraininganatomy #strengthtraining #likemotherlikeson #runnermom #strongkids

I'm about 8 weeks out from the #vermontcitymarathon in May. Yesterday, I ran the spring Equinox half marathon by @greeneventscolorado . I tried to keep it closer to marathon race pace for the first 8 miles, and the plan was to pick it up at that point. I felt really good from a cardiovascular standpoint. I felt in control and relatively comfortable until about mile 10. Both of my hamstrings kind of had a twinge in them as if they might seize up if I went any faster. It's possible I might have overdone the strides, skips, and plyometrics last Thursday. So, although I was able to pick up the pace a little, it was not as much as I hoped for. Either way, it was a strong finish in a time if around 1:27:30 and a total of 18 miles with my warm-up and cool down. That finish line photo is just so flattering...lol

I'm feeling confident as I head into another challenging training block starting next week. I'm hoping to up my volume slightly to 60-70 weekly miles with some challenging workouts 😬. Hopefully, my hammies hold up.

#vermontcitymarathon2025 #mastersrunner #runningafter40 #runnermom #momrunner #runningdietitian #fortcollinsrunning #fortcollinsrunningclub #halfmarathon #springequinoxhalfmarathon #greenevents #marathontraining #runningnutrition #runningnutritionist

I've been silent on Instagram lately. To be honest, this social media stuff makes me a little uncomfortable. I'm working on getting over this. I'm also really good at the daily grind of life and training and just putting in the work and don't always think to share my journey. So I'll try to share more.

Last year was incredible in terms of my running journey, but im hungry for more. I've been consistent with training and have been at 55 to 60 miles per week for 8 weeks and doing strength and cross-training. I've trained through cold weather and a 2 week respiratory virus. I forgot how difficult training this time of year can be, but March is here, and I'm optimistic.

So I'm finally ready to announce my upcoming races. First will be the spring Equinox in March as a tune-up race, and this May, I will be doing the Vermont City Marathon for the 4th time. I love Vermont, so I am so excited to be back in my home state (well, really, my other home state, in addition to Colorado).

#vermontcitymarathon #marathontraining #mastersrunner #vermontcitymarathon2025 #runnermom #runningafter40 #fortcollinsrunning #fortcollinsrunningclub #motherrunner #runningdietitian

I'm setting my goals high for 2025, which means the hard work starts now. Even when the wind is blowing and a cold artic blast is moving in, I'm finding ways to keep my workouts interesting and working on building a foundation.

I've recently added walking with a weighted vest at an incline. My goal with this is to get in more zone 2 training without the wear and tear of running. This helps me build more of a base of fitness while staying injury free.

I'm also doing other forms of cross training such as the rowing machine, which keeps things different and builds whole body strength (not just legs).

Most importantly, I believe a strong athlete is an injury free athlete. After the two marathons last fall, I'm working on building back some lost strength. I'm also working on trying to fix some strength deficits. Mainly, my left side is stronger than the right (you can see it while squating), so I'm doing more strength routines that focus on each leg in isolation. Strength imbalances are super common in runners, which often leads to injuries.

I'm finalizing my spring/summer racing schedule, so stay tuned for more. I'm looking forward to sharing more of my journey and nutrition/training tips/tidbits along the way.

#runnermom #runningafter40 #mastersrunner #marathontraining #fortcollinsrunningclub #fortcollinsrunning #runningstrength #runningcoach #runningdietitian

I'm excited about my running this year! Last year was amazing, and after some injuries in 2023, I was able to remain consistent and improve my fitness, and run a great race at the New York City Marathon. However, I never achieved my goal of a marathon PR.

This year, after taking a little down time after the Tucson marathon, I'm excited to continue to build on my fitness and keep working towards my marathon goal.

Today, I was able to run a good pace in the local Tortiose and Hare 5k race in Fort Collins. I kept my pace around 6:20 to 6:25 pace. It wasn't my fastest 5k, but it was a good starting point for the year.

It is all about enjoying the process. Let the training begin!

#marathontraining #mastersrunner #fortcollinsrunning #fortcollinsrunningclub #enjoytheprocess #motherrunner #keeprunning

Save the date! Wednesday, January 15th at 5 pm MT/7 pm EST. I am inviting you to a facebook live event! During this event, Justin at Tabula Rasa Racing and I will discuss weight loss for endurance athletes.

I have worked with endurance athletes for over 12 years, and so many of these athletes come to me trying to lose weight. Many of them have made mistakes in their attempt to lose weight and perform for their sport, and they consult with me to help them with this goal. The way we as athletes approach weight loss is very different from how "normal" people approach weight loss. You really don't want to miss this opportunity!

We will discuss topics such as how to balance weight loss with performance goals, important considerations when trying to lose weight, timing of weight loss vs training goals, risks of weight cycling, and the importance of developing a sustainable approach to weight loss.

So if you are an endurance athlete and have 5 or 50 (or more) pounds to lose, please find me on Facebook at NoCoSportsNutrition or go to the link in my bio. Feel free to send me any questions!

I did finish the Tucson marathon a few weeks ago but have not posted yet for a few reasons. First, my race did not go as planned, and second, the holiday stress was a bit overwhelming when we returned.

I know the marathon is a special beast. Anyone who has run a marathon knows that all of the stars have to align in order to have a perfect race. There are so many factors that can either make it a great day or a terrible day. Despite being in shape to run under 3 hours, this was not my perfect day. I got sick a few days before with a bit of a GI bug/virus. I say "a bit" because the symptoms were not obvious. Just some aches and nausea and upset tummy. My son had similar symptoms a week earlier, and he seemed to recover quickly, so I tried to remain optimistic. The day before the race, I woke up feeling better, so I was in good spirits despite google telling me it was a bad idea to run a marathon so quickly after feeling ill.

Marathon morning I woke up feeling okay, but I did have nausea and found it hard to eat my breakfast. Everything else seemed okay, and I did the usual pre race routine. The race started, and I felt okay but started to have waves of nausea staring around mile 3. It was not so bad that I felt I needed to slow down. However, by mile 13, I had to use the porter potty. I was hopeful it was just a matter of getting back on pace, but by mile 16, it was obvious things were not going well. I started getting stomach cramps and started feeling warm, like my core temp was rising. So by mile 18, I knew it was not going to be my day. It was a matter of survival and finishing the race at that point.

So after 8 miles of jogging, feeling too ill to keep up with my race day fuel plan, and 4 more porter potty stops, I finished the race in 3:12:30. I spent the next 3 days unable to eat much and suffering the consequences of running a marathon while under the weather.

Now, after two weeks of minimal training/ recovery and as I head into a new year, I'm trying to decide what I want to accomplish next year. Do I go for that elusive marathon PR or focus on another goal?

#tucsonmarathon #marathontraining #mastersrunner #runningafter40 #marathon #runnerslife

I did my 20 mile long run yesterday, and due to the weather, it looks like I'll need to do another workout tomorrow morning, so I'm deploying all the recovery tactics! I don't recover as quickly as I used to. #recovery #marathontraining #tucsonmarathon #runningafter40 #mastersrunner

NYC Marathon - final thoughts: They say that in a marathon, the race starts at mile 20. I don't think this is exactly the truth, but the last 6 miles can make or break your goal. In my race, this is when things started to get tricky. My calves and hamstrings were on the verge of a cramp, and this forced me to slow down to avoid having the muscles seize up. I thought it might go away, but the feeling never went away, so I was just hanging on. The hill before heading into Central Park didn't help.

I ended up running about 70 seconds slower than my PR, which was frustrating. I gave it all I had and went for it. I also realize that I underestimated the course. The crowds and uneven terrain of the city streets would have been impossible to mimic in my training, and the ups and downs of the course were more challenging than I anticipated. I knew it was possibly the hardest marathon of the world majors and is not known as a fast course, but I went for it anyway.

Despite the challenges, I did run a very well paced race until the last 4 miles when my pace slowed. My nutrition was on point. I took my carb loading seriously and got in about 50 grams of carbs per hour during the race. There may be a few things I experiment with, including getting my carbs closer to 60 grams (or more) per hour. I also need to figure out my cramping situation. It could have been muscular and lacked the preparation of running on pavement (most of my running is on gravel roads) or just the challenges of the hills. I also wonder if electrolytes were an issue. I learned from my experience in Boston that I need more electrolytes, so I was diligent about drinking the Gatorade on course and took in about 1-2 electrolyte chews per hour. This was also a cooler race, so I didn't think I would need more than this. Either way, I am plan to analyze my sweat sodium content and dial in this aspect of my nutrition.

#nycmarathon #nycmarathon2024 #mastersrunner #runningafter40 #motherrunner #runnermom #fortcollinsrunning #fortcollinsrunningclub #tcsnycmarathon #marathonrunning

NYC Marathon race recap #2: The first 8 miles of the race felt good and not overly crowded. The energy of the crowd cheering was exciting and helpful, and I was feeling good and optimistic. However, once we got to mile 8, the three different color waves (I was in the orange wave) came together, and the streets narrowed a bit, and it became more congested. This is when I felt I was slowing down behind crowds of runners and then trying to speed up to make up time. It was hard to be consistent with my pace. It was also harder to get to the water and Gatorade.

I kept plugging along and felt good, but my pace was a little off at the halfway point. I was still at a pace to get under 2:59 at this point, so I decided to go for it.

The Queensboro bridge was another hill and was tough, but it offered a respite from the noise and crowds. I felt okay and was still optimistic at this point.

My nutrition was on schedule, and I was feeling okay. My stomach felt kind of full/uncomfortable at the start, but I was doing okay at this point, and I thought I was doing okay with hydration and electrolytes.

Getting back into the crowds, it did help energize me for a bit, but then I started to become a bit overwhelmed with the noise. By mile 18, I could feel the fatigue in my legs, and the potholes and manholes and uneven pavement were more noticeable.

I was optimistic until about mile 20-22 when my legs were feeling like they were on the verge of cramping. This is when the race got tough.

#nycmarathon #nycmarathon2024 #fortcollinsrunning #fortcollinsrunningclub #motherrunner #runningdietitian #runnermom #runningafter40

NYC Marathon race recap part 1: I can't believe it's over. All the planning and training and the day finally arrived. This race was incredible, amazing, but also overwhelming. I loved it, but I also struggled.

I don't have any photos at the start because I did not bring my phone. This is the most complicated race start I have encountered, but I prepared myself well. I took the Staten Island Ferry and bus to the start. I met some awesome people who helped me navigate the starting area. There were people everywhere, but it was well organized. There were lots of bathrooms, so that was 👍. It was a lot of waiting around sitting on the grass and trying to stay warm, calm, and focused.

The Verranzano bridge at the start of the race was one of my favorite parts. We could see the city skyline as we crested the top of the bridge (hill 1), and I could hear the footsteps of the runners and breathing, and it was peaceful but also emotional as I realized I was finally starting the race I had anticipated for so many months.

The race has three different starts, so it was surprisingly not as crowded as I anticipated for the first few miles. The roar of the crowds was audible as we exited the bridge and headed to the city. That was also so amazing. I was getting into a groove and feeling good, and the pace felt good. I just had to stick to my race pace and try to look around and take in all the sights of New York City and the crowds.

#nycmarathon #racerecap #motherrunner #nycmarathon2024 #fortcollinsrunning #irunforfun #runningdietitian #runnermom #mastersrunner

I haven't been posting much lately. Not because there hasn't been anything to post, but mostly because I've been busy balancing life with marathon training.

The New York City Marathon is fast approaching, and last Sunday, I did a bit of a tune-up race. The Fall Equinox half marathon was a great race with many fast female athletes. With the warm-up and 5 mile cool down (only photo of me smiling), it ended up being 20 miles for me. This race gave me much needed confidence as I have about 5 more weeks of training before the marathon.

I don't want to post too much about my time goal, but let's just say I'm hoping for a personal best.

Now, I've just got a couple more long training weeks with a few more 20 milers, finish dialing in my nutrition for race day, and then a proper taper.

#marathontraining #nycmarathon #motherrunner #keepgrinding #runnermom #mastersrunner #fortcollinsrunning

Another track race today, and I improved my mile time by about 11 seconds and 800 meter time by maybe 5 seconds. The second photo is the time clock right before I finished the mile.

All this track running had me curious what my times were from high school (I didn't run the mile or 800 at CU because coach Wetmore pegged me as a 3k to 10k runner from the start). Of course, I didn't write any times down or keep track. I did scour the internet and found a time from the year 2000 for the 1600 (slightly less than an exact mile) of 5:24. See photo 3.

So I'd love to keep working on improving my time and maybe even get close to my 1600 meter time from this race in high school, but maybe next summer. Now it's time to focus on my 10k time and then transition to marathon training.

The very last photo is of my finishing "kick" in the 800. I was hurting a bit at this point 😆😬

#trackrunning #trackrace #motherrunner #mastersrunner #runningafter40

#continuousglucosemonitor #cgmforathletes #mastersrunner #datanerd #biohacker #glucosemonitoring

Speed sessions on the track are something I avoided after running in college. I think I was burned out from running on the track, but now I am enjoying the speed sessions and have a new appreciation for the track.

I am also surprised at the age of 41 that I still have some speed in these legs. Today was 10 x 200 meters in prep for another 1 mile track race this Saturday. I'm looking to try to beat my last mile time of 5:46 a few weeks ago.

A few things I'm doing differently now that I'm older (and wiser 😉) include focusing on recovery and sleep, taking creatine daily, and this morning I added some red powder (with beets) and collagen pre-workout. I plan to share more about my training, nutrition, and recovery.

#mastersrunner #runnermom #runningafter40 #trackrunning #runningdietitian

I ran in jean shorts today! We went to Rocky Mountain National Park to escape the heat, and I was excited to do some trail running. However, I forgot my running shorts, so I had to improvise. I also noticed the mountain lion warning in all of the bathrooms. This had me a bit worried, but there is always a risk when trail running, and this includes animal encounters (both good and bad).

I stuck to popular trails near the campground and Bear lake. Plus, I started my run at 8:30 and not at sunrise. Despite this, I couldn't help but look behind me a bit more than usual.

This got me wondering just how often mountain lions attack and, in particular, trail runners? Was there a recent attack in RMNP I wasn't aware of? All things I can look up, I guess. I'm curious what others would do if they noticed this warning?

#RMNP #rmnptrails #trailrunning #mountainlioncountry #runningafter40 #runningdietitian

I'm surviving the heat wave we have here in Colorado. It's going to be 103 F today🥵. Today I got out around 7:30 AM to go for my run and it was almost 80 degrees already when I got home. Yesterday, I was not able to get out for a run until 10 AM, and as you can tell by my face in the second photo, it was not pleasant.

I would love to get out the door for my runs in the summer by 7 am but due to my husband's work schedule and the fact my son can't be left alone yet, I have to either wake up by 5 am to run or wait until 9 or 10 am. Sleep is so important for me, so waking up before 5 am is not usually an option for me (although I do thos on occasion).

To keep cool I bring a handheld water bottle with ice, wear light clothes if possible, make loops by the house to pour water on my head and of course just slow the pace and watch my heart rate. I also make sure to replace electrolytes before, during, and after my run.

I'm curious if anyone has any good tips for running in the heat (besides waking up earlier, which is obvious)?
#runningintheheat
#runnermom
#runningafter40
#fortcollinsrunning

The Fourth of July started with the Firecracker 5k in Fort Collins. My time of 19 minutes and 4 seconds was over 1 minute faster than my time last year. My legs didn't even feel that fresh so it made me wonder what I might be capable of on a day on a day I felt amazing. I'm so excited about the progress I am making and hungry for more. I'm hoping to break 19 minutes in the 5k but that may have to wait as I switch gears and start training for longer distance events.

Next up will be a 10k in August, half marathon in September, then the marathon in November.

#mastersrunner #runningafter40 #keepgrinding #motherrunner #fortcollinsrunning #fuel2run #runningdietitian

I had way more fun at the track meet this morning than I expected. I surprised myself in the mile and decided to jump in on the 800 meter race. I'm excited to focus on some speed and see if I can get a better time for both races in the next track race on July 20th.
#fortcollinsrunning #fortcollinsrunningclub #trackrunning #mastersrunner #motherrunner #runningdietitian

For global running day I'm sharing a photo from the Steamboat half marathon this past weekend. It was not exactly the day I was hoping for but a I managed to finish under 1:30 despite several factors that prevented me from getting a proper pre race recovery (all outside of my control). It was a beautiful day and I managed to be the first female master athlete.

I have been a runner for over 28 years now and have learned that not all races go the way I hope. I've been putting in quality training and was set to run at least 2 minutes faster than what I ran. It might seem frustrating to spend so much time training for the race to not go as planned. I love the process of training and the daily grind of putting in hard work. So I'll keep grinding and running because I love it.

#keepgrinding #globalrunningday #onward #runnermom #runhappy #motherrunner #runningdietitian #fortcollinsrunning

This year I'm doing Deadcember. Today I was able to do part of the workout outside and got pretty creative with the backwards sled pull portion of superset 2. #deadcember

My relationship with running has been a journey since having my son about 3.5 years ago. I used to be able to go for a run whenever I could fit it in around my schedule. Trying to figure out how to fit it into my life with my son was easier early on when he enjoyed the running stroller and I could time it around a nap. As he got mobile (and did not want to be strapped in a stroller) this stopped working so well. I just kind of had to do it when I could fit it around childcare and work which made it hard to be consistent with training. I just was kind of running and lifting to stay in shape. There was no rhyme or reason to it and that was actually great for a while. In fact, it was freeing to not have to stick to a training schedule.
Recently, I've started missing the running community and the satisfaction of training and racing. So after a brief injury in February and March I decided to start getting serious about training again. Last weekend I did my first actual race in like 5 years. It is hard not to compare to my prior fitness level. Gaining fitness is a process and it won't happen overnight. My goal is to be fit and fast in my 40s. How fast is still to be determined.

#motherrunner #upandrunningpt #fitat40 #momrunner #momswhorun #runningdietitian #runninglife #running

Theo and I did a turkey trot this morning. Happy Thanksgiving!

#motherrunner #momrunner #turkeytrot #5krun #strollerrunning

My running has taken on a new meaning for me over the past 3-4 years since my pregnancy and becoming a mom. It's crazy to think that it has been 5 years since I competed in the Boston marathon in 2017 and that crazy summer or racing a Spartan race and winning my first 50 mile ultra.

I have always used running as a way to cope with stress and anxiety but it used to also be a competitive outlet for me as well. Now with the time constraints of being a working mom, I find that I only have enough time and enery to run for "fun" and most of my runs are a way to decompress at mostly a zone 2 pace.

As I contemplate what running will be for me moving forward I do feel the urge to train and race again but I am trying to figure out what that will be and if I am okay with just simply finishing a race vs trying to win it or race a PR. As I near my 40s I also find myself wondering what is best for my longevity in the sport of running and life.

So far I don't have an answer so I'll just keep doing what feels good.

#justkeeprunning #runnermom #onefootinfrontoftheother #whyirun #runnerforlife #running #iamarunner

My home gym has been such an asset during COVID and since becoming a mom. No time wasted driving to the gym plus I have all the equipment to myself meaning a more efficient workout in less time. I can also fit in a workoit even if I only have 30 minutes in between work and clients. I'm not sure I'll ever go back yo the gym. I do miss the swimming pool though.
#homegym #homegymlife

My office this morning plus a protein-rich breakfast.

🌞Starting the day with plenty of sunshine helps positively influence the circadian rhythm which can impact hormone regulation and appetite.

🍽Starting the day with a protein rich meal helps ensure adequate protein intake and help with satiety and energy levels throughout the morning.

#myofficetoday #northerncolorado #proteinpacked #sunsout #breakfasttime

This month I'm on a roll. I have been doing the #deadcember workouts from @sorinex_deadcember, rowing about 12,000 to 14,000 meters per week and running 20 to 25 miles per week. The home gym is almost complete so no more wasting time going to the gym. I've really learned how to be productive. Having a 2 year old and trying to balance work, fitness, and mommying is a constant challenge.

#homegym #strongmom #runnermom #runnermomlife #deadlift #iliketopartyandbypartyimeandeadlift

I did a fun little 🤣 workout this morning testing out some UCAN products. I ran 12 miles, but broke it up with a 2000 meter row at mile 4 and 12. I mixed the energy drink with a little orange LMNT for added sodium and tried the salted peanut butter bar (which was really good). Felt great the entire time! I liked breaking up the run a little too. Thanks for the samples!
#ucan #ucanenergy #runningdietitian #momrunner #runnermom #fuelyourrun

This afternoon I was hoping to go for a run and had to change my plans as I looked out the window and saw some storm clouds rolling in. I did some rowing and squats instead. I feel so grateful to have the space and equipment to get a good workout, regardless of the weather. Strength training is so important for endurance athletes so I dont view a missed running day as a setback, but rather an excuse to work on my weaknesses. #noexcuses #healthylifestyle #moveeveryday #strengthtrainingforrunners

I was able to get in a little trail running while we were up in Steamboat. I love the trails and wish I could get out on them more often. It felt sooo good to be out in nature.
#trailrunning #momrunner
#runnersofinstagram #runnermomlife #fortcollinsrunning

The perfect breakfast companion! I love these relaxing mornings and being able to make pancakes for breakfast with my son.

What the heck do I have on the back of my arm? It's a CGM (continuous glucose monitor)! Last week I inserted my CGM sensor from @nutrisenseio and I'm getting all sorts of data on my blood sugars. This includes how my body reacts to certain foods and how certain workouts, stress, timing of meals and sleep impact my blood sugars. I'm using it to make better decisions for recovery from workouts and overall health.

Picture 3 is a snapshot of my data and picture 4 is my meals so far today. The red arrow is my breakfast. I ate oatmeal (60 grams of carb) with Greek yogurt, almond butter, and grain free granola. I was surprised that I didn't have much of a spike. The two small spikes around 8 am were probably related to either the collagen in my coffee or vitamin C supplement.

The highlighted area is my workout (some kettlebell warm-ups followed by a 10.5 mile run). My sugar spiked up and stayed there for the duration of the workout. This is normal because my body was using glucose during the workout to fuel my muscles (it was not a fasted workout so I had plenty of fuel from my meal and glycogen). It was also hot outside so I'm sure that also factored in. It would be interesting to see a longer workout as I would expect my glucose to gradually decline as I ran out of stored glycogen and rely more on fat. I felt really good on my run (mostly zone 2).

I didn't see much of a spike with my post run shake (increased insulin sensitivity and muscle cells taking in sugar) so that was good (last red dot).

There was a pretty significant dip that I did feel around 1 pm (hangry). In retrospect, I should have had a lunch meal around 12:30, but I was busy with my son. I ate at 1:45 and had a big shift in blood sugar (not so good), hence the lower meal score at lunch.

I'm excited to keep using the CGM and get even more insights.

*FYI: I just started working for NutriSense, but obviously I wouldn't work there if I didn't believe the technology has the capability to help prevent disease and improve performance.

#cgm #nutrisense #glucosemonitoring
#runnermom #fuelyourrun #runhappy #runningdietitian #longrun

I was able to get some running in this weekend while we were in Steamboat visiting family. I love the trails, but when I'm home I have too much mom guilt to justify driving 45 min to an hour (one way) to do a trail run. When we are in Steamboat I can usually find trails within a mile of the front door.

The Steamboat marathon was today and although I am definitely not race ready, I did feel a little sad that I wasn't running. Maybe I'll do the half next year.
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#momrunner #momswhorun #runnermomlife #trailrunning #dietitianrunner

Happy global running day! The first photo is me today. The second is from middle school when I started running, then college at CU and the Fortitude race almost 3 years ago. It's crazy to think I've been running for approximately 26 years (there have been a few breaks, but not many). It mostly brings me joy, but it doesn't define me. It has been a struggle (college running days), but it also has helped me get through some tough times. I've been competitive on and off for many years, but currently it serves as a way to move my body and stay healthy and happy.

A collage of this morning's run, playground fun, and lunch. My husband works 5×10 hour days (plus my work sched) so my ability to get a solo run in is pretty limited most days of the week. That means I need to run with my little one. In order to make it fun for him we always start at a playground and either play before or after my run. Generally runs can't be more than 5 miles before he gets upset. Sometimes I make it 3 miles and sometimes more. I can't really have anything planned, because there is no guarantee.

My running, and more specifically, my relationship with running, has changed over the past 3 years.

In 2018 I ran the Quad Rock 25 mile race and it was one of the worst races of my life. The worst part was not the lack of preparation or the terrible mud, but the pressures I felt going into the race. I signed up wanting to "have fun," but ended up feeling like I had to compete. I have no idea how I finished or my time. After that run I was done with racing.

I ended up switching gears and working on strength with the goal of powerlifting. I just needed to do something completely new and I loved getting strong and gaining muscle.

Before I had a chance to compete in a powerlifting meet, I became pregnant. This was awesome news, but pregnancy was rough for me. I had all- day sickness and it took everything I had to walk/jog and do some light lifting for the first 4 months. I ran very little for the entire 9 months. It was hard not to compare myself to other pregnant runners who had no problem running throughout their pregnancy.

When my little one was born I had goals of getting back in shape and maybe getting back into racing, until that was derailed by the pandemic. I ended up coping by running alot, mostly with the stroller. I had some minor injuries and had to back off.

Last winter I started accumulating strength training equipment and getting back into lifting with runs when the weather cooperated.

Now I run about 20 miles per week and lift 4 days per week. Not enough to be competitive, but for now I'll enjoy my little one and our slow stroller runs.

#momrunner #runnermom #runnermomlife #momswhorun #strollerrunning #strongmom

I love fish and chips. This is a healthier version with roasted sweet potato fries and cod fish that is baked with bread crumbs instead of fried. This is one of my new favorite meals. I served it with a large salad, but roasted veggies are good too. So yummy!
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#mealideas #easyweeknightmeals #fishandchips #healthyversion

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