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Welcome to Iron Pine Health: A Different Kind of Healthcare
If you've been following our journey, you know that our passion has always been helping people become healthier, stronger, and happier. Today, we're excited to officially welcome you to Iron Pine Health—the next chapter in that journey. We're opening both a telehealth and in-person clinic because we believe healthcare should be personal, accessible, and centered around you. Too often, people feel rushed through appointments or struggle to get in to see their provider when the
Mai Smith-Trau
Jul 53 min read


Sleep, Stress, and Exercise: The Trio Nobody Talks About Enough
Stress shows up in our bodies in more ways than most people realize. It doesn’t just feel like being overwhelmed or mentally drained—it has real, physical consequences that can affect nearly every system in the body. When stress becomes chronic, it can impact: Cortisol levels Cardiovascular health Immune function Mental health Inflammation levels And here’s where things get a little more serious. When cortisol stays elevated for too long, the body can shift into a state where
Mai Smith-Trau
Jul 43 min read


My GLP-1 Journey: The Truth No One Tells You
Let's talk about GLP-1s. By now, most of us know someone who is taking one. Maybe it's Wegovy. Maybe it's Zepbound. Maybe it's Mounjaro. Maybe it's your neighbor, your coworker, your cousin, or the person who suddenly lost 50 pounds and claims they "haven't changed a thing." As someone who has been on a GLP-1 since 2023, I wanted to share my experience—the good, the bad, and the "why is my body doing this?" moments. I'll also share some of the information I discuss with patie
Mai Smith-Trau
Jun 115 min read


The Truth About Using a GLP-1 on a Fitness Journey
We’ve all heard it. Or we know someone who’s on it. The “magic” medication conversation. “They’re losing weight so easily.”“They didn’t even change their diet.”“It just melts off.” And yes—some of that is true. GLP-1 medications can significantly reduce appetite and help with weight loss. That part isn’t the myth. But here’s the part that gets left out of the group chat: Medication alone doesn’t build long-term lifestyle change. And when the medication stops, research is show
Mai Smith-Trau
May 303 min read


Grumble & Grind: Reno Runs, Good Eats & Questionable Life Choices 😂🏃♀️🍀
Alright friends, buckle up—because this one is a two-for-one special: a little running, a little chaos, and a whole lot of “why did we sign up for this again?” energy. As most of you know, my family and I have a slight obsession with running—especially trail runs and anything in Reno. Why Reno? Because it’s close, it’s easy, and honestly… it keeps calling us back like a toxic ex with really good snacks. This year we’ve done two races hosted by the Reno Running Company, and le
Mai Smith-Trau
May 93 min read


Kicking Off the Year: Our First Big Races of 2026
We’ve officially completed our first run of the year —well, technically our second. We started 2026 strong with a New Year’s Day run on January 1st in Auburn, California , and followed it up with what felt like our first big race of the season: a 10K and a Half Marathon . After coming home, we took a well-earned recovery week. That doesn’t mean we stopped moving entirely—we still focused on stretching and light gym workouts—but we did step away from structured treadmill trai
Mai Smith-Trau
Feb 72 min read


Get Ready to Run: Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend Awaits!
The Stressful Art of Getting Into RunDisney If you’ve ever tried signing up for a RunDisney race, you know that getting into the event is a challenge all by itself. Registration day is a sport . You need to: Know the exact date and time registration opens. Be logged in early. Have your credit card ready. Know your race distances. Know who you’re signing up with. If you hesitate—or misclick—there’s a good chance you won’t get in. Most races sell out in under an hour , sometime
Mai Smith-Trau
Jan 243 min read


The 99% You Don’t See
We’ve all heard the saying that people only see the 1% —the finish line, the medals, the before-and-after photos—but they don’t see the 99% of effort it takes to get there. And that 99%? That’s where the real work happens. There are plenty of days when I’m not motivated to exercise. I’ve had a long day at work. I still have mom and wife duties waiting for me at home. And somehow, I still have to figure out when and how to fit training into my day. That’s where Runna has tru
Mai Smith-Trau
Jan 103 min read


My Journey With GLP-1s: What I Wish I Knew Before I Started
We’ve all heard about the GLP-1 medications—Zepbound, Mounjaro, Ozempic, Wegovy, Trulicity, Saxenda. We’ve heard about the insurance battles, the skyrocketing costs, the shortages, and the endless TikToks, Snapchats, and Instagram posts praising their benefits. We’ve heard the government is lowering doses or making changes, yet most of us still don’t know how to access what we need. So, here’s my real, honest journey with GLP-1 medications—because maybe it will help someone
Mai Smith-Trau
Jan 33 min read


How I Finally Found Time to Train While Working, Parenting, and Trying to Do It All
“How do you find the time?” If you’ve ever struggled with weight or tried to build a healthier lifestyle, you’ve probably heard every cliché in the book: “If it’s important, you’ll make time.” “Just do it.” “Stop making excuses.” People mean well, but comments like that never really help—especially when you’re juggling being a wife, daughter, mother, full-time employee, and everything else life stacks on your plate. As a woman heading into my 50s, I have struggled with my wei
Mai Smith-Trau
Dec 27, 20254 min read


Staying Motivated on GLP-1, Training, and the RunDisney Journey
Most of you know that our family has been on a GLP-1 at some point over the last 2–3 years. My husband and daughter are now on maintenance doses, while I’m still on my regular weekly dose—and for a few good reasons I’ll share below. What Maintenance Looks Like A maintenance dose happens once someone reaches their goal weight and no longer needs the full weekly amount. Instead of taking the medication every 7 days, they may stretch it to every 10–14 days or lower their dose. T
Mai Smith-Trau
Dec 20, 20253 min read


Let’s Chat About Running Gear: Starting With Shoes
When it comes to running, gear really matters. There’s so much to consider—what equipment to use, what clothes to wear, what shoes actually work for your feet, which apps to track your progress, where to sign up for races, even how GLP-1 use affects running and walking. Trust me, I could write for days about all of it (and I will!), so I hope these posts help you on your journey. My Brooks Adrenalines, except the purple ones. Those are Hubbs Start With Shoes—Because the Righ
Mai Smith-Trau
Dec 13, 20252 min read


My Lifelong Weight Journey & How RunDisney Helped Me Break My Plateau
As some may know, I have struggled with my weight my entire life. Even at a young age, I understood I would never be the “skinny girl.” I wasn’t built like a ballerina—I was built like an athlete. In high school, I was incredibly active: basketball, volleyball, track, and softball . But as adulthood rolled in, everything changed. Work, responsibilities, parenting, and exhaustion slowly edged out my fitness routines. 🔁 The Cycle of Diets, Successes, and Setbacks Like many peo
Mai Smith-Trau
Dec 6, 20253 min read
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