Happy Tuesday! We’re a few weeks removed from the holidays and I hope that you all had a blast spending time with family and friends.
This week’s Tuesday Topic: What were your favorite gifts you received over the holidays? You can write about this topic, or feel free to post any running related blog post. Remember to Link-up with Kim and Zenaida!
Was Santa good to you? While there’s SO much more to the holidays than gifts, sometimes you can get that one unexpected or cool gift that makes you smile from ear.
Do you have a favorite gift (or gifts) that you received over the holidays? I loved all my gifts, but these are the few that really stuck out to me.
Books
I was so thrilled to receive these books! The Run Fast. Cook Fast. Eat Slow Cookbook was gifted to me by my Secret Santa for a gift exchange I did with a bunch of fitness bloggers (thanks Linda!) and I already see SO many recipes that I can’t wait to try!
I used a different training journal last year and while it was okay, I’m glad to be back to the Believe Training Journal for this year. I love the color and look forward to writing in my workouts everyday. Shut Up and Run has been on my wish list for a while. I enjoyed reading it over the weekend. While I didn’t learn anything new, I think it would be a prefect book for new runners and it was extremely motivating!
Sleep
My parents gifted me a YnM Weighted Blanket for Christmas. I’ve never been a great sleeper but it’s gotten progressively worse over the past 2 years. Either I can fall asleep but not stay asleep (hello 3am infomercials) or I have insomnia which keeps me up way past my bedtime. I know that I need to get a proper amount of sleep in order to stay healthy so I’m hoping (fingers crossed) that this blanket will help. It’s been about three weeks and I do see some small changes already. I think that the longer I use it, the more results I’ll see.
Sneakers
I was in desperate need of new running sneakers since I had basically hit my mileage (400 miles) on three different pairs of sneakers! These Brooks Ravenna 9 sneakers are good so far. I’ve done a few 3-5 mile runs in them and haven’t had any weird pain. While I love the Brooks Launch sneakers, I need something with more support, especially for long runs. I’m hoping that these will be good for that!
Clothes
I’m all about getting outside my comfort zone and for me that means wearing skirts and dresses more often. These two skirts from J. Crew Factory are so cute and the design is fun so how could I not want to wear these?
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And finally, I’m linking up with Lora from Crazy Running Girl, Marc from Train With Marc and Debbie from Coach Debbie Runs for Coaches’ Corner!
I have the same problem of waking up too early — although I’ll stay in bed, because even if you can’t sleep, you can rest. I was definitely curious about the weighted blanket — I’ve heard about them!
Sounds like a lot of great gifts. We don’t exchange gifts (Hannukah, not Christmas, the whole gift thing isn’t as emphasized & I got tired of getting small gifts for my hubby he never used).
I did pass on the Garmin Vivoactive 3 at a great price — decided the next day yes, but the deal was gone. 🙁
Sometimes I do stay in bed but then I get frustrated that I’m no longer sleeping, lol
Well, I’m all things fashion, so those skirts are the bomb(s)! Like you (#kimtwin), I’m a terrible sleeper. I have a hard time falling asleep before midnight, and then my “internal” clock has me up around 5-5:15 a.m. (usually without an alarm). Thankfully, I don’t see it affecting my daytime alertness…but I know it’s only a matter of time before that changes.
Glad you approve of the skirts! 🙂 Sorry that you deal with sleep issues too 🙁 I am secretly jealous of anyone that gets 8 hours of sleep every night!
You got great gifts.
I’m a horrible sleeper so that blanket looks intriguing.
Love those skirts.
I would recommend the blanket. I have noticed that my sleep has been better.
I am really interested in a weighted blanket. I sleep so much better under a certain amount of blankets, and it has occurred to me that it’s because of the actual weight of those blankets.
Love the shoes! New running shoes make the best gifts.
And I would love to get my hands on that cookbook. I’ve heard such great things!
I would definitely recommend trying the weighted blanket. The first few nights were a little odd but my body is now used to it.
Well my favorite holiday gift is the Peloton! It is going to be hard to top that one ever 🙂 those skirts are super cute
Yes, that is an awesome holiday gift!
Love that skirt pattern. A friend had wonderful success with a weighted blanket.
I bought Run Fast, East Slow as a bday present to/from myself – thanks Amazon Black Friday deals. Haven’t used it yet but looking forward
Thanks! I still haven’t worn the skirts yet, but maybe next week. I’m just so used to wearing slacks every day.
I haven’t made any recipes from that cookbook yet but I’ll probably go through it this weekend and earmark a few to try.
Plus it’s too cold to wear a skirt without freezing. At least for me with the walks to the subway
You know I am a Brooks fun and I love that you are liking their shoes too. I’ve heard so many great things about the The Run Fast. Cook Fast. Eat Slow Cookbook. Now I want to get it too!
Haha. Meant to say fan. 🙂
i am actually surprised how much I’m liking my Brooks sneakers. I was in Mizunos for SO long so I felt like I was cheating on them, lol.
Great gifts. Fancy running out three pairs of shoes at the same time, though. I have one about to go, one I’ve just started and a new, unstarted pair I need to try out.
I bought two DRESSES the other day – I had to send pics to my best friend and running buddies as I seem to have lost the ability to buy non-running clothes. Oopsie!
Yeah it was really sad to have to get ride of three pairs of sneakers in such a short period of time 🙁
Haha, I’m the same way when it comes to clothes. I definitely shop more for running clothes than non-running clothes.
Oooh…those J Crew skirts are cute! I rarely get to dress up anymore now that I have retired, but I like to look! I got a bunch of really great books for Christmas too. I am now reading “The Soul of an Octopus” by Sy Montgomery. It is fantastic! Also a Title 9 sweater from hubby that I am loving.
Thanks Laurie. I’m really more of a t-shirt and jeans type of gal so this is a little out of my comfort zone, which means I should do it, lol
Insomnia sucks! I’m a pretty good sleeper but if I have problems it’s usually getting to sleep. Once I’m there I’m good. I hope your blanket helps!
Thanks Debbie. Thanfully the blanket has been helping so far.
omg i NEED a weighted blanket!!! I am a horrible sleeper!
You got great gifts Kim! I had a believe journal and I couldn’t even get started with it so I did a giveaway on my blog. I never even heard back from the person who won if they liked it or even received it! 🙁
great shoes – I love the color! I hope they work out for long distances! I love the skirts too. I keep saying I’m going to make more of an effort and then I find myself with jeans on again haha! where I work it’s totally casual. We kind of know the moments when we need to dress up but they are few and far between.
The weighted blanket is working! Some nights I am sleeping a little longer but some nights I feel like I get a deep sleep.
Oh that’s a bummer 🙁 Why didn’t you like the journal? Maybe you should try it again. I find it to be very motivating.
The sneakers are working out for me so far. Fingers crossed that the positive experience with them continues!
I got a weighted blanket last Christmas and LOVE it.
I can tell that it’s finally making a difference in my sleep!
Looks like you got some great Christmas gifts there! I’m so glad you had a good one. I got a lot of random things, but things that I needed replaced or more of
Yes, Santa was good to me this year, that’s for sure!
these are all great gifts! I have the Run Fast Eat Slow book and cookbook and just love them!!
Happy that you love the cookbook!
New shoes are always a great present! 😀 I’ve heard great things about weighted blankets, but I’m too good at falling asleep already as it is–I feel like if I got one of those, I’d never get outta bed, haha. I hope it works for you!
Thanks! The blanket has been working well so far.