self-care practices post 20+ min NYC Marathon PR
plus, a Q&A with Kristen Hollingshaus of @hauskris!
before we get into the fun, this edition of the sunday series is too long for email, so I’d recommend clicking out to read in browser or even better, in the substack app, where you can like and comment!
hi, fam.
well, let’s start with something that won’t surprise anyone who’s been reading my newsletter for more than like, one second. this past week was a combination of some of the highest highs followed by a dopamine crash worse than any I’ve ever known. evidence of the emotional rollercoaster can be found below in a clip (seen by hundreds of thousands…) of me being humbled by humanity, crying happy tears in a cab after completing 26.2 miles in 4:00:46. mere days later, my tears were stemming from very different reason than gratitude. they were angry tears. but, we’ll get to that.
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I haven’t been shy about sharing my emphatic support for the Harris-Walz campaign here (or anywhere, for a matter of fact). so it wouldn’t feel authentic for me to hop straight into my marathon recap without acknowledging the hurt and disappointment I’ve been wading through alongside my nearest and dearest these past several days. but I really aim to keep things positive, so to kick things off, I’m going to run through a few self-care practices I’ve been digging into in hopes they may help you if you’re down, too!
deep cleaning and fresh florals: tidying up your space with a podcast (recs below) or audiobook playing is so soothing. since I’m done with Ina’s memoir, now I’m currently listening to Stanley Tucci’s latest, “What I Ate In One Year” on Libro.fm while deep cleaning. I’ve also never had more fresh florals in my apartment, including this STUNNING delivery from my sweet colleagues. thank you, Michelle, Kara, and Addie! x
all hail the group chat: my group chats have been a saving grace this week. and I’m not talking about the obligatory family chats—no, no. in my case, those ones are sprinkled with men who just don’t get (or care to??) what we’re going through as women. I’m talking about the handful of chats made up of my sisters, aunts, book club besties, and colleagues who were deeply invested in the outcome of this race. we’ve been sharing stories, screenshots, podcasts, and videos that are making all of this just a bit more bearable. if you’re in the stage of fact-finding to try and better understand how we got here, below I’ve rounded up a few podcasts I’d recommend listening to:
canceling plans: I know there is no shortage of memes out there about the pleasure we all have when plans cancel, but there isn’t often as much grace given when those plans are of the professional kind. this week, I couldn’t fathom going to anything social that wasn’t absolutely necessary. it felt so liberating to prioritize my mental health and say, “I’m so sorry to cancel, but I’m just not feeling up to it today.” you’d be so pleasantly surprised by how much people really understand.
back to movement: still all kinds of sore Wednesday morning when the news hit, my first instinct was to sit on my SoulCycle bike and flush out my legs. from my bike to walking to yoga, Y7 sculpt, and even The Class (you can stream it at home, here!), I’ve done it all this week. if you can move your body—even better if that movement happens outside—you’ll be all the better for it.
lean into the holidays early: I’m usually one of those people who is annoyed by Christmas decor before Thanksgiving, but the wheels are OFF. yesterday, I was at Saks, and seeing the lights up and the tree being assembled in Rockefeller sparked a modicum of joy. we even talked about going to a Christmas bar this week because, at this point, why not??
redirecting anger: as self-destructive as consuming hours and hours of content on the internet may sound, I do actually find so many tidbits of goodness on Instagram and TikTok. in instances like this one, I find that the anonymity of TikTok makes it feel far less emotionally charged and often, a lot funnier. I think me and my sister have sent back and forth about a hundred TikToks this week, but I’ll spare you those for something a bit more constructive. it was actually author Jessica Knoll’s poignant Instagram Story that brought me just the reframe I needed. she shared the below…
“In 2016, my spirit was crushed for weeks and weeks. In 2020, my nerves were frayed. In 2024, I am disappointed by the outcome of this election, but I do not feel the kind of pain and fury I used to feel—it used to feel like being assaulted all over again and no one listening to me, believing, or caring. I’ve worked really hard over the years to cultivate what I call ‘smart anger.’
I’ve written about it before, but it basically boils down to directing my anger at those who deserve it instead of at every man, every Republican, and everyone who could be so ignorant and hateful for not seeing things EXACTLY as I see them. It has helped me enormously to realize that so many people in this country are not thinking about me at all when they go to note. They don’t wish me ill, it’s just that they are voting for issues that impact their lives the way reproductive rights have impacted mine.
For what it’s worth, Trump already stripped us of our rights when he appointed far right judges to the Supreme Court who overturned Roe v. Wade! I voted for Kamala because 1) I’m a Democrat and 2) as a referendum for overturning Rose v. Wade. As a fifteen-year-old rape survivor who was denied reproductive care at the ER, fuck Trump forever for that. But some people are struggling to pay their rent and buy gas, and right or wrong, their perception is that things were better for them under Trump. This narrative I see taking hold that people voted for Trump because they hate women is oversimplistic and used to be very tantalizing to people like me who were still working through a grave violation and all the unresolved anger and pain around that.
The point is I’m trying to be smarter when it comes to my anger. I’m not going to write off half this country and refuse to engage with any narrative that is, he won because people are racist and stupid. I’m going to leave room for the possibility of positive change and hope—particularly offline—before seeing a rock that looks too much like a bear and turning and booking it back to the car." — Jessica Knoll, author of Luckiest Girl Alive, The Favorite Sister, and Bright Young Women
something about the reframe she has so beautifully explained resonated for me on a deep level. I thought it might for you too. and if you want to dig into this framework more deeply, I just re-read Knoll’s 2022 Vogue essay, “I Wanted Revenge. What I Got Was Better” about smart anger. if you need a reminder about redirecting all of the feelings of blame you may be grappling with as we face another Trump victory, I couldn’t recommend it more.
ultimately, it’s up to us to fuel our feelings of despondency into those of being fired up around creating change where we can. many wise people I look up to are focusing on their communities and the impact they can have close to home first—I love this approach, because it feels tangible. where can you volunteer over the holidays? what organization can you donate to that means something to you? for me, I’ll be starting here, delusionally optimistic that I can make a difference, and so can you.
on that note, let’s shift back to humanity at its best: the New York City Marathon…
meet Kristen Hollingshaus
last week, while I was walking through the marathon expo (completely overwhelmed and deeply questioning whether I could do what I’d set out to do by running the NYC Marathon for the first time in seven years), I realized I was directly behind one of my favorite creators: Kristen Hollingshaus. I knew that Kristen was going to be running the race, but figuring it was along with 55,000 other people, I never expected to see her! naturally, given the kismet of it all, I had to say hello. I was so delighted to find that Kristen was the absolute sweetest—we talked about how nervous we were for race day, and I shamelessly asked her to be a guest on the sunday series. voilà!
if you’re not following along with @hauskris closely the way me and my girls are, let me introduce you. Kristen is the official 🍒 Diet Coke girl™️ who keeps us inspired with her videos covering beauty, fashion, and fitness. San Francisco-based, Kristen began her journey as a runner last year. in our chat, we cover all things burnout, training, and how she trained for her first marathon!
Kayla Douglas: Kristen, you've cultivated a loyal following on TikTok and Instagram, covering all things beauty, wellness, fitness, home, and, of course, Diet Coke. What's the common thread that inspires you to create content for your @hauskris channels?
Kristen Hollingshaus: I have always been someone who loves to share things I've found with others. I think it honestly started because I get SO excited about amazing finds from Home Goods or something I've found on Amazon or my perfect Diet Coke recipe that I just started posting it, and seeing others also love what I've found or done and want to do it themselves is SO fun!
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KD: We get to see the highlights, but what does an average "day in the life" in San Francisco look like?
KH: Such a great question! I love San Francisco because it's a quiet, slower-paced city and that's how I usually approach my days. I wake up, snuggle on the couch with my dog and read and then change into something comfortable and head on a walk. My mornings are usually lots of work and admin tasks, I take a break during lunch to go to the gym, and then afternoons are usually when I film and finish work. We take our dog to the park every evening before it gets dark and then just hang out at home, and I usually edit at night while watching shows! Some days, I'll break up my day and find a new coffee shop or grab a pastry, but most of my days are pretty routine-based, and I'm doing the same things. My routines keep me sane!
KD: For many, content creation is a full-time job, but we know you're super busy juggling a million other things behind the scenes (like training for a marathon!). How do you avoid burnout?
KH: I'm really trying to be better at this and it requires active effort each and every day. I'm learning how to say no more often. I am the kind of person who thrives on chaos and doing a million and one things, but that does me dirty in the long run, haha. I'm living off of the "if it's not a hell yes, then it's a no" saying when it comes to everything - events, trips, work that comes in, weekend activities, etc. If I say yes to everything, I'll crumble in the long run.
KD: What has your journey as a runner looked like?
KH: I actually just started running last year. I've never considered myself a runner before that, but I have had running a marathon on my list of things I want to accomplish since I was 18. I have always been very active in the gym - I LOVE lifting. Last year, my friends and I decided we'd run the SF half together, and it kind of just grew from there! I feel like I haven't been "confident" in my running until just recently. I finally know how to feel comfortable when running, what my favorite routes are, how to make my body feel good, etc. I am definitely part of the 'new runner' wave that has happened recently and I've loved it! It's a fun new way to move my body.
KD: Tell us about your approach to training for the New York City Marathon. What would you recommend to anyone considering running the race for the first time?
KH: I used the Peloton Road to 26.2 training program and would ABSOLUTELY recommend it. It's a first-time marathoner program and they teach you SO much about running, breathing, marathon pace, etc. The weekly runs are all guided runs, so you have a coach in your ears the entire time which I found to be so helpful, especially training your brain mentally. The coaches also talk about the NYC marathon specifically a lot during the training, so they train you on the course as well which I found to be so helpful. My recommendation is to trust the training and just have FUN. I didn't have a time goal and I was just running for fun and I'm so glad I did that - I was able to take everything in during the race and it was truly amazing.
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KD: What would you do differently if you trained again? The same?
KH: Honestly, I don't think I'd do anything differently. I felt soooo prepared, and if I ever run NYC again, I'll do the same. No goal time, just have fun!
KD: What was the highlight of your experience running New York?
KH: I was truly blown away by the spectators and all of my amazing followers who were cheering for me during the race. It makes me choked up to think about. People came out of the woodwork!!!!! I mentioned this recently in a TikTok, but being an influencer is so interesting when it comes to parasocial relationships - transparently, sometimes it's weird that 'strangers' know things about my life! But sometimes they are also AMAZING! It's amazing that I am technically a stranger, but my followers care and I also care, so MUCH! And being able to see these followers that I've never met before, come out and cheer for me or track me in the NYC marathon app was so incredibly special. It was a really sweet moment. Two groups of followers brought me Diet Coke along the race and it was so iconic. The NYC Marathon spectators are amazing, and it's a great reminder that humanity can be so good sometimes.
KD: What's next? What are you looking forward to as we approach 2025?
KH: I am so excited to get back to lifting again, but I won't lie, I have the marathon itch again already, haha. I am applying for Chicago 2025, so we'll see! I'm from Chicago so I think it would be so fun to do. We'll see!
everything I did to train for the New York Marathon
now that we’ve covered Kristen’s incredible journey to the finish line let’s get into mine! paid subscribers will have the deep dive on:
my history as a runner
how to get into the NYC Marathon
how my ACL repair factored into my training
running gear: what I’ve tested and love
training plan and engaging with a coach
keeping your body straight with alignment work
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my history as a runner
I started getting into running in college. I ran my first half marathon (ironically, my fastest ever at 1:45…lol) as a college sophomore. so, that was twelve years ago! I’ve ebbed and flowed with running since but have lost track of the number of half marathons I’ve done—particularly considering my participation in the Serengeti Girls Run two years in a row, which is literally three days straight of back-to-back half marathons!
as far as marathons, this was my third! I ran New York for the first time in 2017, then Paris in 2019, and took a big 5.5-year marathon break from long-distance running to come back and run New York this year. for reference, my official finishing times are below:
New York City Marathon 2017 — 4:21:22 (9:58 pace)
Paris Marathon 2019 — 4:12:29 (9:38 pace)
New York City Marathon 2024 — 4:00:46 (9:10 pace)
how to get into the NYC Marathon
this article is a great reference point for all the official details, but I’m almost wary of sharing how I personally got in this year because it’s not even one of the listed avenues as I found a loophole.
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