Help, I Accidentally Signed Up for a Half Marathon

If you know me, you know I talk a lot of crap—pardon my French. My big mouth has gotten me into many questionable situations, but I never had “accidentally signing up for a half marathon” on my bingo card. And yet, here I am, training for a 13.1-mile race in Edinburgh, Scotland. Yes, you read that correctly—Scotland.

Originally, I thought I could low-key sign up, and if I decided I wasn’t feeling it, I could just ghost the race entirely... jokes on me. That plan was solid—until my parents found out about the run and decided they wouldn’t miss the chance to see me cross the finish line. So now, not only am I running a half marathon, but I’m doing it with an audience. It's fine. I'm fine.

I have to admit, though—I thought runner’s high was an absolute joke. And now? I’m fully invested. I am obsessed. If you’re new here, get used to it—I get obsessed with many things, and running is now sitting comfortably at the top of my long list of addictions. (Hey, at least it’s not an unhealthy addiction, so I guess that’s a plus?) I am fully invested in my running journey, and yes, I look forward to my daily runs. Don’t ask me what my pace is, though—you might as well ask me my weight.

I am in no way, shape, or form a professional runner, just a girly who throws on her HOKAs, blasts her playlist, and takes off. As a Florida girl living in Berlin, I originally thought running in the cold was criminal and quite frankly, not for me. But let me tell you—I was wrong. Not only do I love winter runs, but I also run in the snow. Yes, you read that correctly. I put on my cute little winter running outfit, brave the frozen streets, and take off into what feels like a Hallmark Christmas movie.

Now, if you’re thinking about getting into running or if you’ve tried and hated it (been there), here are my best tips to help you fall in love with running and actually stick with it:

• Don’t Track Your Pace (Yet): Running is supposed to be fun. The quickest way to hate it is by stressing over numbers. Once you actually enjoy running and feel comfortable, then you can track your pace—but in the beginning? Just focus on running and enjoying it.

• A Good Playlist is Non-Negotiable: Music will get you through the pain and keep you motivated. Make a playlist filled with bangers, songs that hype you up, and ones with a steady beat that match your speed. Some days, I’m running to Bad Bunny, and other days, it’s just a podcast depends on my mood.

• Fuel Your Body Properly: Don’t just eat an hour before a run—fuel up the night before. A meal with healthy carbs (like sweet potatoes, rice, or whole grains, cottage cheese is my personal fav) will help your endurance. Hydration also starts the day before, not 10 minutes before your run (I learned this the hard way).

• Hydration is Everything: Water is great, but electrolytes will be your best friend. If you’re running longer distances, you’ll need to replace lost sodium and minerals to avoid cramping and fatigue. Coconut water, and electrolyte packets chemcial free of course will make all the difference.

• Dressing for Winter Running (Cold Weather Doesn’t Mean You Have to ugly run) if you’re running in cold or dark weather, make sure you have:

  • Thermal running gear (because Florida girls are always cold).

  • Reflective gear (cars do not see you).

  • Gloves & ear warmers (your fingers will go numb before your legs as will your ears).

• Always Bring Your Phone: Running injuries happen, and weather changes fast, so always have your phone with you. Also, pepper spray or a self-defense tool is a smart move if you run alone—safety first, ladies men are weird.

• Runners Glide (Prevent Chafing): If you don’t think chafing is real, just wait. Apply runners glide (or even Vaseline) on high-friction areas before running—your thighs will thank you. Yes, chemical free runners glide does exist!!

• Invest in a Running Belt: A good running belt lets you carry your phone, keys, and fuel without feeling like you’re hauling a backpack. (coming from the girl who still does not own one trust me you need one. I need one.)

• The Right Socks Matter (Trust Me, You’ll Feel the Difference): Your socks will betray you if they’re not high quality. I swear by Balega socks (shout out to my amazing uncle for putting me on—yes, they’re pricey, but once you try them, you’ll never go back.

• Listen to Your Body & Take Rest Days: If your body feels physically done, STOP. It’s okay to end a run early if something feels off—this prevents injury and helps you stay consistent in the long run (pun intended). Also, cross-training (Pilates my fav, strength workouts, yoga) will make you a stronger runner.

• Stretch Before & After (Don’t Be Like Me & Skip This): I used to ignore stretching honestly still do, and? I can physically feel my bad choices. Stretch before and after your runs—your body will recover faster, and you’ll prevent injuries.

• Rest Days Are Not Optional: You do not need to beg me for a rest day! I love them! If you don’t take rest days, your body will collapse on race day also you need to be mentally evaluated sorry go rest. Let your muscles recover so you can come back stronger.