Hello! Hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving. Jeremy and I went up to Santa Barbara to spend time with my family, and it was really great. It was about 80 degrees and I spent lots of time at the beach.
I really love being in driving distance to Santa Barbara.
Traditional post-Thanksgiving beach walk.
We were instructed at November Project to take a picture in our shirts and tag it #np_tsa and it took me a while before there was no one around so I could take a selfie without anyone seeing.
Lots of selfie outtakes.
This guy is SUPing (stand-up paddleboarding) with dolphins.
I can’t stop with the beach photos.
From a few weeks ago – three of my favorite things: the beach, Pez the dog, and coffee.
The local running store was having a Black Friday sale. It’s the only sale I attended.
I got this Oiselle shirt, Smartwool socks, and an armband for my iPhone 6.
Almost done…
Okay this is the last one.
Anyway, I got a new job and I started a couple weeks ago, so adjusting to that and moving into our new apartment has been… a lot. But everything is good and exciting and moving to a new city is SO FUN. I highly recommend it. My job is downtown L.A., which is not too far from where we live (I was worried about a one-hour commute at least if I got a job anywhere on the west side of the city), and it’s fun to be downtown around lots of cool bars and restaurants and old buildings.
One view from the new office.
My running has felt a little lackluster lately, especially last week. I was on a good run of workout weeks, but last week I slacked. I did five miles in Santa Barbara on Friday that felt good, but I think that was one of two runs last week… oops. My main focus right now is building a good base to start marathon training on January 5th (!!!!!). I’ve enlisted the help of Lauren from The Foodie Runner as my coach for marathon training, and I’m so excited to get started. I am really looking forward to having a training plan, and especially one that’s specifically made for me. I think having someone to keep me accountable and encourage me is going to be so beneficial. I’ve been exploring our new neighborhood a good bit on foot, and am really glad the Silver Lake Reservoir is nearby, it makes for a nice loop. There are also lots of super steep roads around, which will come in handy if I have any hill workouts to do. I’ve been getting a little bit faster, most of my runs are now under 9:30 minutes/mile, so at least there’s that.
Neighborhood view – I love seeing the Hollywood sign.
The local reservoir.
There are a good amount of “secret” staircases in L.A., and I found one of them the other day.
They made for a nice view at the top.
Jeremy and I have also been exploring the restaurants and bars in walking distance to us – this was a really important factor when choosing an apartment. Los Angeles is not known for its walkability, but we can venture out easily and find lots of places to visit within a two-mile radius.
One of the local Mexican restaurants.
Where we got breakfast burritos.
I’ve still been going to November Project every Wednesday morning, and I’m so excited because starting this Friday, it’s being held at Echo Park Lake, which is a 5-10 minute drive from me. I need that cross-training!
One of our workouts outside the Hollywood Bowl.
Our yearbook photos arrived.
There’s also a studio nearby that’s called YAS Fitness Center, which is half spinning classes half yoga for athlete classes (one class is thirty minutes of one then switches to the other), and they are having a special right now so I think I’ll buy some classes. I haven’t done yoga in a long time (or stretched much) and I know spinning is a great cross-training exercise. Otherwise, I’m going to keep working on my base, hopefully running 20-25 miles a week until January 5th. I keep getting butterflies when I think about marathon training; I know I have to strengthen my mental game for the race too, I’m feeling pretty scared of the distance at the moment.
A few more pictures for good measure.
My favorite juice at my favorite beach.
Sunset from our new porch.
I want to jump in.
Hope everyone has a really great last month of 2014!
Lily Runs the World 
You look like youre in a really fantastic spot there 🙂
Also so jealous of that paddleboarding guy. Thats bucket list stuff right there!
I know! I considered jumping in and swimming over there, but I think I would have been too scared once I actually got close to them…
Congrats on starting your new job and good luck with marathon training! Looks like you guys are settling in just fine. Miss you. xoxo
Thank you Deanna!! Miss you too xoxo
Loved this post! So many exciting things and stunning photos. I’m so proud of and excited for you! We need to catch up ASAP 🙂
Aw thanks! We really do need to catch up, it’s been forever!!
Awesome photos! It sounds like you have a good base building plan intact. Love the pics of SB! Miss it! Your neighborhood in LA looks cool. Love the yearbook photo!
Thanks! I’m glad to hear you say that about the base building plan, I’m still a little nervous about it but I think/hope it’ll be okay.
I always love seeing your pics 🙂 You are such a talented photographer! It sounds like you guys have been busy but having lots of fun! Congrats on the new job and new place 🙂 That’s awesome that there’s so much to do around you, and that place that offers half spin/half yoga sounds awesome! I would love to try something like that!
Thank you so much! I’m pretty excited to take a class, I’ve never actually taken a real spin class before and this one sounds awesome.
Beautiful views, and congrats on the new job!
Thanks Lisa!
Keep working on that base and you will be great in marathon training! I agree that moving to a new place is exciting, fun and so rewarding…moving to SF was one of the best things I’ve done in my life! Beautiful pictures as always! 🙂
It’s so fun to move to a new city and discover everything and it’s all so new and exciting. I hope a move to SF is in my future!
Your pictures are absolutely amazing. It looks so beautiful there.
Thank you! It’s pretty nice, I can’t complain 🙂
I love your photos – it’s so beautiful there. And congrats on the job and glad to hear that LA is working out for you guys.
Thank you so much 🙂
Great pics!!! Good luck with the new job!
Thanks Fallon!!
Congrats on the new job!
That’s awesome that you’re going to work with Lauren, she’s the best coach! I don’t know if I would have made it through marathon training without her!
That’s so cool that Santa Barbara has dolphins that swim so close to the shore! We have sea turtles if you go at the right time, but I’ve never seen a dolphin!
Oh man I’d love if we had sea turtles here! I’ve been to the beaches in Florida but never saw any… I saw a manatee once though! I loved reading about your marathon experience with Lauren as your coach, I can’t wait to get started!
ahhhh I’m so jealous… I don’t think i’m going back to Chicago for christmas because I”M COLD. and I’m tired of traveling to colder places. I need a beach… !
Move west! Shorts weather year round!
Congrats on the new job! And also on getting down to 9:30/mile average easy run pace. You’re set up quite nicely for starting marathon training next month. I start training on Dec. 21 and I cannot wait. I don’t think I’ve ever been this excited to start a training cycle.
Oh man we’ll be marathon training buddies! I love reading others’ training experiences.
I think it helps to have an online training support group!
This looks absolutely amazing and you have me wishing I would move back to LA!
I love it here so far! I kind of didn’t expect to love it as much as I do for some reason. Although I see you’re living in NYC, which is another city I think I’d love to live in.
Such beautiful pics. So jealous you were wearing a tank top and being in 80 degree weather. Heck it snowed where I live the day before Thanksgiving
Love all the pics! Amazing! And I want that breakfast burrito.
I think I need to try some breakfast tacos next!