Take It One Day At A Time

Happy August and happy Friday! Yesterday marks the start of the USATF Outdoor Championships, and it has been so fun to watch all of the athletes get to show off all of the hard work they’ve put in over the past year. This is also the first year for me since 2021 that I’m not in Eugene for the national champs, so it has been nostalgic for me to watch these races at Hayward from afar.

Even though I’m not competing in the US champs this year, I will be kicking off my first ever marathon training block on Monday! The start of a new training block can be both exciting and daunting. The first long run or first workout back can feel like a big accomplishment, but it can also make you realize how far you are from where you want to be. In all of my past training blocks, the first time I run anything near race pace my mind immediately goes to “how am I supposed to run this pace for an entire race?!” Yet somehow, at the end of the training block and the taper, I’ve always managed to do what seemed impossible just a few months prior.

The start of a training block can be a good metaphor for life. It’s so easy to get caught up in where you want to be or where you feel like you should be, instead of focusing on the process. Whether that’s going back to school in the fall and feeling intimidated by the whole school year ahead, or starting a new job and feeling overwhelmed by everything you have to learn, we often let the fear of the future cloud our ability to enjoy the now. I remember how I would always get the nervous, excited jitters the day before the first day of school, and then they would quickly be overshadowed by dread for the long year ahead. Now when August rolls around, I can’t help but get that nostalgic feeling for the start of the school year despite the fact that it felt so overwhelming at the time.

This is something I (and my therapist 😅) call “future tripping”, where you spend so much time worrying about the future only for the future to get here and realize there was actually nothing to be worried about. Future tripping can really get in the way of enjoying life, and if we’re always rushing to get to the next thing or the next goal, are we really ever doing anything for the joy of it all? It’s kind of like when we convince ourselves that if we can just get through this stressful week, next week will be a piece of cake, and then somehow next week is not, in fact, a piece of cake.

So, if you’re heading into a new training block, or your own version of a training block, let this be your reminder to enjoy the process. Don’t forget to stop and enjoy the little things in life. Take note of that one run you had where the weather was perfect and you were loving your podcast and it felt like you could run all day. Acknowledge that moment that you took for yourself to do something that brings you joy, even if you had a million other things on your to do list.

Life moves so fast, and if there is anything that highlights how fast life moves it’s the start of the school year. Truly nothing ever seems to go by as fast in my life as the summer. I know this training block will go by so quickly too, and before I know it I’ll be hopping on a plane to New York with all the jitters I would have on the first day of school. Then one day in the (probably not so near) future, I’ll look back on this training block with nostalgia and feel so in awe of what I accomplished. My goal is to take it one day at a time, and really commit to loving every step of the process.

In today’s newsletter:

• Recipe highlight 🌽 - I love a good bowl for dinner, and this month I wanted to highlight a simple, flavorful recipe that uses in season produce. This street corn chicken and rice bowl is the perfect end of summer dish, and is great for a quick, nutritious meal that the whole family will love.

• Quick tip 💡- Are you feeling overwhelmed with the start of the school year just around the corner? If so, this one is for you! I’m going to share some quick tips on getting prepared for the year so you can still nail your fueling when the calendar fills up.

• Rapid fire thoughts 🔥 - It’s championship season! The USA Track and Field Championships kicked off yesterday with athletes all competing for those coveted spots on Team USA and a chance to race at the Tokyo World Championships. I’ll highlight some exciting races, athletes and podcasts to get you ready to watch!

New York City Marathon Fundraiser

I’m going to be running the New York City Marathon as a charity runner for Trackgirlz, an incredible non-profit organization that works to provide girls access to mentorship and sport through track and field empowerment programs. My goal is to raise $4500 for them before the race, so if you’re interested in donating to support me you can do so HERE. I so appreciate any and all donations!

Recipe Highlight - Street Corn Chicken Rice Bowl

I love a bowl oriented dinner because it’s an easy way to check the carb, color and protein box all in one meal while incorporating new flavors. When possible, I try to use seasonal produce as inspiration and I’ll often Google recipes based on what’s in season. That’s how I came across this recipe! My mom is from Iowa, and corn was always a staple in our household in the summer, so I wanted to find a recipe that uses corn because it always reminds me of summer.

My favorite features of this recipe include:

1. Chicken thighs - in my opinion, chicken thighs are way tastier than chicken breasts. I find that they are more flavorful and less dry. Not to mention, chicken thighs are actually higher in iron than chicken breasts, which is great for runners!

2. Street corn - stress corn aka elote is one of my favorite side dishes. It’s so easy to throw together, but adds so much to the dish. You can grill fresh sweet corn and cut it off the cob, or buy frozen to make it quicker. In the summer, I’m opting for in-season corn on the cob!

3. Rice base - the best part about bowl based meals is that you can get a good amount of carbs to support your training! It pairs well with all of the other flavors without being too bland.

For additional toppings, I love to add some avocado to incorporate more fiber, nutrients, and healthy fats. The recipe also suggests watermelon radish, which is a great addition for some crunch. You can get creative here, and add any veggies that would pair well with these flavors!

If you make this recipe, be sure to share it on Instagram and tag @fueling_forward or respond to this email and let me know what you think!

Want more than one recipe per month? Upgrade today to the Sunday Brunch Club to get recipes like this every Sunday morning. You can sign up for free today and get a 2 week free trial!

Quick Tip

Fall is just around the corner, and for many runners and families that means back to school. Even without the start of school, fall tends to be a time where travel is winding down and life settles into more of a routine. So, I wanted to share some tips on getting into a routine with your fueling as we head into the fall season. I’ve got some suggestions for you below ⬇️!

Heading back to school or work can be great for forcing you to get into a routine. Most of us live a more unstructured life in the summer, so sometimes that transition back into reality can make your head spin.

Gradually getting into a routine as the school year approaches can really help ease that transitional whiplash and make it easier to stay on top of things like sleep, fueling and hydration.

Here are some tips to help you navigate the start of the school year:

1. Test out some recipes - the first time you ever make a recipe it can always take longer to figure out. Don’t wait to try out a new recipe until the night before the first day of school! I recommend finding some easy meal prep options for dinners, and then testing them out over the next few weeks to streamline your routine when your schedule is more strict. My Sunday Brunch Club newsletter is a great place to find a ton of great, easy recipes!

2. Make a list of easy breakfast and lunch options - there is nothing worse than being in a rush in the morning and realizing you have nothing to eat for breakfast and you didn’t buy anything to pack for lunch. If you have family members who also need quick meals, sit down together and brainstorm some ideas. I love grab and go options that you can make the night before like overnight oats, make ahead and freeze breakfast burritos, or a chicken or egg salad for lunches.

3. Brainstorm snacks - whether you have kids in school or need grab and go options for yourself at work, having balanced snacks on hand is key when you’re in a rush. Stock up mix and match items that check the protein and carb box. Things like trail mix, cheese sticks, pretzels, drinkable Greek yogurts or yogurt cups, peanut butter packets, apples, etc. are easy to grab but can be paired in different ways to keep things interesting. I also love things you can make ahead of time like energy bites, homemade oat bars, muffins, etc.

4. Invest in a nice water bottle and lunch box - if you’re packing your lunch and bring a water bottle to work or school every day, these should be items that you like and use! I have a lunch box that has cold packs sewn into it, so you just throw the whole thing in the freezer and pack it in the morning. Carrying a water bottle with me when I leave the house is key for staying hydrated, and having a nice insulated water bottle helps me to drink more throughout the day.

5. Get the whole household involved - if everyone is going to be eating these things, then it’s only fair that everyone helps! Carve out 10 minutes on a Saturday or Sunday to plan out your week ahead for meals and snacks. Alternate weeks planning, cooking and grocery shopping (if possible). Teamwork makes the dream work!

It may take some time to adjust to a new routine, and that’s ok! You didn’t fail if you had a few hiccups (or a lot of hiccups) along the way. Take note of the areas that have been the most challenging, and work on troubleshooting those as the weeks go on. It will get easier!

If this was helpful and you’re looking for more ideas on meals and recipes, I post my own weekly menu plan for breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks, and include any recipes I’m using. Upgrade today to the Sunday Brunch Club to get my weekly meal plan every Sunday morning. You can sign up for free today and get a 2 week free trial!

Rapid Fire Thoughts

This weekend is my favorite part of the year. There’s something special about the USA Championships and getting the chance to compete for team USA. Big moments like these, that only come around maybe once a year, can be challenging because we like to build them up in our heads and add a ton of pressure. Whether it’s high school, collegiate, professional sports, a big marathon or even a big moment at work, it can be helpful to remember all of the hard work you’ve done to get to where you are and that all you have to do is what you’ve been doing. You got this far for a reason!

I wanted to highlight some of the storylines and I’m most excited to look for this year, especially among people that I have been friendly with or admired over the years:

• I will always be partial to the women’s 5k because it was the event that I competed in the most. Someone who is having a great season in the 5k is Josette Andrews and I thought it was noteworthy that for all of her accolades, she has never made an outdoor USA team. I would love to see Josette break through and make that team, and I might even go so far as to say she’ll win.

• Drew Hunter wrote a great newsletter about what it means to him to be a dad while also still training and racing at the highest level. Last year he finished an agonizing fourth place at the Olympic Trials, the hardest place to finish. This year he’s running even better and I would love to see him make the team in the 5k.

• My good friend and former teammate Gabbi Jennings is the top seed in the women’s steeplechase. Gabbi is such a hard worker and positive presence at practice and I’ve loved to watch how much she has grown since she first joined Team Boss. I think this is her time to assert herself as the next big American steeplechaser and I can’t wait to see what she does this weekend!

If you’re like me and can’t wait for the action to get started, or if you’re just tuning in for the first time, here are some great podcasts that can get you all caught up and ready to watch the US Championships:

• Nikki Hiltz was on the Ali on the Run Podcast this week talking about all of these things. Nikki is such an incredible competitor, especially when it comes to big moments like US Championships, but they still talked about what it means to have that pressure and how they deal with it.

• Des Linden and Kara Goucher did a great US Championship preview on their Nobody Asked Us podcast. They’re a great resource because they have both competed many times at the highest level on the track and roads. Kara will also be doing some of the announcing for NBC so she has to know her stuff!

• Eric Jenkins and Aisha Praught-Leer have been on a tear with their new podcast, Off the Rails. Last week they had a great episode talking about doping in track and had a unique perspective as they have both lost out on prize money due to dopers. And then this week they did a great preview episode on the US champs, where they have so much first hand knowledge as well. They’ll also be doing daily recaps on the ground in Eugene that you can check in with after the racing is done. Listen to them if you love fun and silly but also great info. I dare you not to laugh!

It’s such a fun time to get to watch pure competition and to remember why we do this. It’s to test ourselves, to have fun and see how we stack up against our competition or our goals. I’m always inspired by these athletes because it takes so much to put all of your hopes and dreams on the line in front of a huge audience. No matter the outcome, there’s nothing better than watching a hard fought race!

Stay fueled,

Maddie

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