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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


Reno’s Biggest Little 10K: Running, Riverwalks & Recovery Beers 🍻🏃♀️
If you’ve ever been to Reno in April, then you already know the weather spins a giant wheel every morning and decides your fate. Will it be snowing? Will it be windy enough to blow your eyelashes off? Will you need shorts, leggings, a raincoat, and emotional support? The answer is usually: yes. Raven and I at Reno,NV 2026 But somehow, for the 2026 Reno's Biggest Little Half Marathon, we hit the weather jackpot. It was absolutely perfect running weather. Cool enough to be comf
Mai Smith-Trau
Jun 274 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


Why Motivation Is a Liar (and Why Discipline Always Wins)
Motivation is often described as the internal or external driving force, reason, or desire that initiates, guides, and maintains goal-oriented behavior. In simple terms? It’s what gets you started. This absolutely applies to those of us trying to change our lives and get healthier. We imagine we’re supposed to feel motivated all the time—to show up for every workout, every run, every strength session like we’re living in a fitness commercial. But here’s the problem no one rea
Mai Smith-Trau
May 233 min read


Planning the 2026 Race Season: How We’re Choosing Our Runs
As the 2026 race season begins, many of us are asking the same question: Which races do I want to do this year? For new runners, this can feel overwhelming. When I first started, I had no idea where to find races, how to keep track of them, or that there were so many running communities, challenges, and goals to choose from. Honestly, I didn’t even know half of what was out there. Auburn Resolution Run 2026 How My Running Journey Started My running journey really began in 201
Mai Smith-Trau
Feb 144 min read


✈️🏃♀️ Bags, Brooks, and a Bit of Pixie Dust
Prepping for Our Walt Disney World Run Weekend! It’s finally here! We’re leaving for Walt Disney World in just a day or two, and I can’t believe how fast this trip snuck up on us. We’ve been planning this for about six months, and yet somehow I’m still double-checking everything like it’s the night before finals. Hotels? Check. Flights? Check. Bags? Sort of check. Running gear? Probably scattered around the house somewhere. This trip has been months in the making, and I can’
Mai Smith-Trau
Nov 29, 20253 min read


Our RunDisney Journey: How We Started & Why We Keep Going
As some of you already know, our family has jumped headfirst into the magical (and sometimes exhausting!) world of RunDisney . From 5Ks to 10Ks and now even half marathons, this journey has transformed our health, our habits, and honestly—our lives. This is how we got here… and why we’re still going. 💍 From a Disney Wedding to Realizing We Needed Change The photo below is from our wedding day in February 2022. We celebrated in our favorite place—Disney, of course! We were ha
Mai Smith-Trau
Nov 22, 20253 min read
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