April Showers

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Happy May! Let’s take a moment to look back on April. It came and went in a flash, and here we are with our second newsletter, how exciting is that? Friends, summer is just around the corner, can you feel it? Those few sunny days we had gave us a little taste of what's to come, and honestly, they’ve done wonders for my mood. April brought some great moments and a few lessons, and I’m excited to share what I’ve been up to. In this issue, you’ll find a race day recap, some spoilers for May, and even some new projects I’m working on! Let’s take a look at everything that made April memorable.

Times Have Changed

I kicked off the month by celebrating Aicha’s birthday with the girls! We went to a Mediterranean spot the vibes were phenomenal. It’s wild to think that Aicha and I have been friends for nearly a decade now. I’ve seen so many different versions of her and watched her grow in so many beautiful ways. Now that I think about it, all my friends have changed so much since we first met. One day, we just grew up suddenly we were adults. Not in a bad way, but in a “wow we're actually doing this kind of way” We’re all so different now, so independent, and when I look at how our paths have evolved… it honestly blows my mind.

Weekdays

I spent a good chunk of this month binge-watching How I Met YourMother and honestly, I was surprised by how much I liked it. Ted and Robin’s decisions? Highly questionable. But overall, the show gets a solid 9/10 from me. Mondays became my unofficial hangout days with Alex, a coworker turned good friend. It turned into a little weekly tradition we’d do literally anything after work, from making Lululemon returns to grabbing bowls of Ichiran ramen. Speaking of work, the biggest piece of advice on my career shift was to focus on building my portfolio. I can’t show people my work if there’s no work to show. With that in mind, I’ve been trying to take more videos and photos trying being the keyword. Because honestly? I don’t know how people record in public without getting completely embarrassed. Major respect to the content creators who fearlessly vlog in the wild. So if I whip out my phone mid-hangout, it’s all in the name of content!

Training for Race Day

Training for my half marathon became extremely difficult toward the end. The runs started to feel like something I was forcing myself to do. I mentally checked out halfway through most of them, which made each one feel even longer. I ended up skipping a couple, and honestly, I was looking forward to race day just so I wouldn’t have to run. Training also took a huge toll on my eating and sleeping habits. Eating more carbs, doubling my food intake, staying hydrated; it’s all so important, but these smaller details are things people don’t talk about enough. Running daily on top of working a full-time job completely drained me. Some days, all I had energy for was work, a run, food, and sleep. As I train for my next race, I’m going to focus more on balance, taking care of my body, listening to it, and not overworking myself. Now, to what you wanna hear about, Race Day! I ran my first race of the year The NYCRuns Brooklyn Half! I really enjoyed running it this year, the course felt manageable, the vibes were amazing, and it felt so good to run through the streets of Brooklyn! I finished with a time of 2:29:29, which is an 11:10 pace. Not my best, but it was an improvement from last year’s half, and that’s something I’m proud of. I felt great during the first half, but knee pain started to creep in and slow me down. Still, the energy from the crowd and the running community kept me going. I loved seeing so many familiar faces out on the course, and the support I received from friends and strangers meant everything. Watching runners cheer for each other always reminds me why I love this sport. The work isn’t done yet, we’ve got another race coming up in just three weeks, right here in Brooklyn again. Mark your calendars: May 17!

Sneak Peek

May has always been my favorite month and not just because it’s my birthday. There’s a lot happening, and I’m genuinely excited for all of it. Graduation weekend is coming up, and I get to celebrate some of my closest friends. Some are finishing their undergrad journeys, others are earning their master’s, it’s so inspiring to see people I love reach these milestones. I’ve also got some concerts lined up Rauw Alejandro and The Chainsmokers, at The Brooklyn Mirage! I can’t wait to see the new renovations. I will also be running my second race of the year The Brooklyn Half Marathon with New York Road Runners(NYRR). Fingers crossed for good weather and even better energy! SO much to look forward to in May.

Signed & Sealed

April really did it’s thing. Some chaos, some calm, a few core memories, and a whole lot of running (literally). I wouldn’t say I’ve got it all figured out, but I am getting better at just rolling with it. If this month taught me anything, it’s that life is funnier, messier, and way more memorable when you just lean in. I’m learning to enjoy the ride, to rest when I need, and to celebrate the small stuff. So here’s to May, bring on the birthdays, the concerts, and probably more random stories I’ll have to explain later. We Lived, We Laughed, We April’d. Love you guys thank you for reading, same time next month?

Let’s Talk About Coachella

Coachella has to be one of my favorite music festivals of all time! Have I ever been? Well… no. This year, I wasn’t all that interested in the headliners or the lineup in general. But as soon as the Coachella content started to come out I knew this year was going to be good. Lady Gaga gave what I truly believe is the best performance in Coachella history. Her setlist? Flawless. I wasn’t even mad she didn’t play Marry The Night. The outfits? Stunning. Choreography? A full 10/10. Charli XCX also delivered a spectacular performance. I can only imagine how surreal and electric it must feel to experience all of this live, in the middle of the desert. Maybe Coachella will see me next year.

Song of The Month

As It Was by Harry Styles has been on repeat all of April! This one got me through some of my toughest runs this month. I’m the kind of person who connects songs to specific times and memories, and As It Was instantly takes me back to my time in Spain. I remember one day I decided to go out on my own. I was just wandering aimlessly through the streets, headphones in, letting the city and the music carry me. As It Was was playing, and somehow, that moment became a core memory. I miss Spain. sigh*