A day in the life of trying hard to get fast

I am a professional trail runner and coach, splitting time between the North Shore of Oahu, a surfing mecca, and traveling the world to train and race. Ever wonder what my day looks like? No two are the same, but while I am here in Hawaii, I am trying to gain some semblance of a routine after 2.5 months of living out of my suitcase. Here is what my typical day has looked like at home.

5:25 AM - Alarm goes off

Now that I am healthy, with over seven months since hip surgery and over three back and running, I can finally train how I need to. I’ve found that I am more consistent when I commit to running in the morning. 

5:35 AM - PT with a side of donuts

After I’ve roused myself, I hit the start button on my pre-readied coffee machine while I warm up. I do thoracic spine, ankle, and shoulder mobility before easing into a series of activation exercises targeting my glutes and core. In between reps, I’ll work on my donuts and coffee. I’ve found that a little sweet treat helps me to get out of bed in the morning. 

6:30 - Running

Today, I had 13 miles easy on the road, focusing on cadence. Since surgery, flat running has been the hardest to tolerate unless I shuffle. I have been able to slowly work in some steady road miles since I’ve been home, and this was a test. It wasn’t perfect, but it was eons better than a month ago. Good god, it got hot out there. I ran along the coast, and even with sunscreen, I was FRIED after. To help protect against the harsh glare, I wore the Silverton’s. I often prefer the Silvertons when running on exposed roads because the larger frames cover more of my face. I have also found that, even though they are the biggest frame in the Method Seven Trail line, they fit the best under my large visor, which is as non-negotiable as sunglasses when running on asphalt a stones throw away from the ocean. The Silverton’s are equipped with the Trail26 lens. While they are a litter lens made for the unique changes in the light you see on the trails, I prefer them for all my runs, even on the road. I have a hard time seeing anyway, and the contrast these lenses offer on the trail, and the road makes it so I don’t have to sacrifice performance for eye protection.

8:15- Recovery shake and exercise Dog

Shirley, whom we often call Dog, is a maniac who loves the beach. After I run, I usually meet up with Carson, wherever he spent the morning surfing. This morning, and most mornings, because it is a world-famous wave, we reconvened at Pipeline to throw the ball for Shirley. For these walks, I need a darker frame. I wore the Lennox SUN Polarized, originally developed for outdoor gardening in a women’s specific frame. Cason wore the Evolution SUN Polarized. 

9:30 - Office Time

After a hardy second breakfast consisting of two eggs, tater tots, and two pieces of cinnamon raisin bread, I sit down for meetings, planning training, and whatever life-admin I’ve neglected. 

2:00- Dog Break and Smoothie

My last meeting usually ends around 2p, and by then, I am starving. Today, I had a blueberry smoothie with cucumber, almond butter, greek yogurt, coconut water, and protein powder. I sipped it while throwing the ball for Shirley. 

4:00p- Lifting 

After another office hour, it’s time to lift. I do something every day around this time, either mobility or strength. Today, I worked on lateral stability with 8x one minute of suitcase carries, but with a propane canister, lateral step downs with a kettlebell, and single-leg Romanian dead lifts. 

5:00p- Trail double topped off with an ocean dip

After so much road running, I was relieved to have a trail double. An easy 45 minutes with Shirley on trail after a long day is a treat. Even though the sun is low in the sky, and I ran on a shaded trail, I still wore sunglasses. The Trail26 lenses help the roots and rocks pop by offering a lot of contrast on the trail, no matter the light. They were designed to be worn from dawn until dusk; today, I wore them for both. However, when running on trail, I prefer the lenses in the Huntress frame, which is a more precise fit for my face shape. By the time the sun set, I was back at Pipeline for a quick dip before dark. 

6:30- Quinoa, foam rolling, comedy

*Back-pat for a healthy day of eating.* The last few years, I had gotten a habit of eating frozen pizza for dinner most of the time. And if it wasn’t that, it was a frozen burrito or a veggie burger. But with getting back into training, I am also committing to improving my TV-dinner diet. Tonight, I made quinoa with squash, chili oil, arugula, and garlic. I am very proud that it was edible. I enjoyed it on the floor while watching comedy and using my foam roller in between bites. 

8:30 read and lights out

I am obsessed with fantasy novels and find that I am a better person when I get my fix. Tonight, I plan on sneaking away at 8:30 to indulge in my latest read, The Poppy Wars, until I can no longer keep my eyes open. Probably around 9:30.

This was my day! And tomorrow will probably look the same. I’ve learned that my most significant accomplishments usually follow a period of monotonous dedication. So this is me trying hard! And every day, I am committed to being a little better than the day before. The Silverton, our newest frames and the first official Ultra Trail product, is out and has been a huge success, loved by badasses like Cam Hanes and Dean Karnasas. Check them out here, and use Silverton75 at checkout for $75 off