Why Hitting The Pavement Will Change Your Life

On May 1 (23 days before my 35th birthday) I ran my second half marathon. It’s quickly becoming tradition to road trip it to destinations around America to log miles on the road. Just as some love to see all the different ball parks in the good ole U S of A – we’ve all decided that seeing different cities from the streets is pretty fascinating. The people you see, the buildings, the cheering, the pavement…

Planning in advance for girls trips is good for the soul. You’re doing something for yourself, you bond with your running buddies over the months of training and pulled muscles, and you get to take in the sights to get there. Nothing is more fun that laughing over stories and belting out songs in a car on the road. Ever since I was little, I used to love driving to see landmarks, exploring new towns and seeing just how people live up-close. I guess I was destined to be a journalist.  To this day I will always choose driving over any other form of transportation (I mean, as long as it’s feasible) so I can pick and choose where I want to go and stop along the way.

I’ve been able to meet so many interesting people throughout my life – from Indian tour guides in Arizona when I was the tender age of 10 to chatting with the locals in Mexico just last weekend. I’ve always wanted to hear from people, listen to their stories, see life through their eyes. You don’t get that by burying your head in a computer on a plane.

1. Have good wheels.

Whether what your driving or on your feet, have a comfortable ride. Just like you test drive a car, you want to test drive your shoes before a big race. This time we took a Kia Sorento to Pittsburgh, and it was seriously one of the coolest cars out there. From the extended sun roofs to the seat COOLERS (that’s right – air conditioning for your sweaty nether regions) it was a smooth ride over the seven-hour trip. When you’re a single mom traveling for extended hours with a toddler, you want to make sure it’s the best hours it can be.

Nothing showcases this better than Snap Chats – I have included a sneak peek here for you, but don’t get spoiled – you’ll want to follow me at @missstephanieb to see them all live.

You can follow along with my Tweets too at #drivekia

Having a vehicle that allows connivence is key – built in GPS, Bluetooth for your phone so you don’t even have to plug it in to listen to your music (which is a necessity for those dead spots along the way!), plenty of outlets for charging iPads, and lots of space for all those extra passengers (Pigeon and Olaf like to road trip with us!).

2. Sometimes memories are best remembered off-film.

Last summer a friend of mine said sometimes it’s better to just remember the memories as they were in the moment instead of taking photos and snaps. They had a point. With all the photos and social media posts we put up, sometimes I like to go off the grid for a little. Some days you’ll see me go silent and this is why. You’ll see me post pre- and post-race, but you’ll never see me post during the run. Those 13.1 miles belong to me and only me. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

3. Embrace the horror stories and setbacks.

 

Every trip is destined to have pit falls. That’s life. As horrific as it may be at the time, you’ll look back and remember that moment and laugh. Starting off 13.1 miles in a torrential downpour at 7am was zero fun, but now we look back and see how resilient we were to push through. After the race, I could barely move due to a torn ligament in my left foot, and figured it was best to drive back the SAME day (that’s right, I was up at 4am, ran 13.1 miles and then drove home over seven hours) in case it would be worse the next day and I might not be able to drive. People think I am crazy, but I look back and think – now that’s an epic day. There’s always going to be rain, traffic and detours. Instead of getting mad, find a way to tackle it.

4. When you see something cool, stop.

Road trips aren’t about getting from A to B in the fastest way possible. Save that for rush hour traffic. Take the back roads, see what weird and unique places are lurking on hidden small town streets. We obviously have a thing for food, and love to find home town locally-owned restaurants. When in PA, one MUST eat off the beaten path – don’t waste those precious calories on a McDonalds when places like the above exist. Seriously – this all-you-can-eat delicious (and healthy!) salad bar as an entree was only $7.45! Stop it. Look it up, here! It’s now bookmarked in our travel book so we know to stop back again one day!

5. Plan at least two getaways a year.

Trips don’t have to be expensive, and having something to look forward to will always give you something positive to think about on even the worst of days. You don’t have to own a car to travel, you can always rent one for affordable rates. Finding local bed and breakfasts are always more quaint and family-friendly than stuffy box motels, plus you’re supporting local small businesses (and did I mention, you’ll get a fresh, hot home-cooked meal in the am?). There are also other options to save on costs like taking trains, traveling with friends to split costs and gas, and even souring Groupon and the likes for deals coming up on resorts. Trust me, you can find some seriously good deals on really beautiful places out there.

So where’s the next adventure you ask?

December 3rd I’ll be running the half marathon in Memphis, Tennessee for St. Jude! You can join my team or donate to my team, here! Every dollar counts (seriously, families at St. Jude do not pay a penny for their time there or treatments!) – St. Jude is one of the most incredible institutions out there. Plus, it’s for the kids!

Want more tips on getting out and seeing America the Beautiful? Follow along or feel free to reach out on travel tips to me personally!

 

xoxo Stephanie