As you know, I'm a big runner. I've talked about the Paris marathon I did in the past and I'll be telling you all about the New York Marathon I'm doing this year! And you guys asked what I did to train for the Paris marathon, it seemed like a good time to answer. And to get my butt back into gear! So whether you're planning to train for a marathon on a keto diet, just want some tips on how to run further, or are just interested in how I did it, here's what I did, what I learned and what I'll probably do differently the next time around.

First things first...the actual running part: I've always been a runner at heart and when I get into a groove, knocking out 4 or 5 miles on a daily basis comes pretty naturally, thankfully. So when it came down to committing myself to a running schedule, I didn't think too much about it. A few marathon enthusiast friends of mine recommended an easy schedule here, that literally lists out what you should be running each day, for four months leading up to the marathon itself. It's important to note, that this running schedule won't get you to setting any PRs. It's geared toward marathon beginners who simply want to finish the race with a semi-respectable time. And it's also worth noting, that was exactly my goal. So seems pretty straightforward, right?

Man, I was wrong.

I started training pretty strong -- the end of the summer months made it hard considering the humidity but I managed to get my butt out close to every day, even on days when I should have been resting, to knock out my mileage. But then winter hit. My longer run days got harder to fit in. Travel schedules kicked in. And I just wasn't being realistic with myself. I was still squeezing in 4 or 5 miles each day, but I wasn't hitting my stride with regular long runs in the immediate weeks leading up to the marathon.

And here comes the worst confession of all: my longest run pre-marathon was 15 miles. Eep! I really should have hit at least 20 miles a few weeks before, but it just wasn't in the cards with my travel schedule.

Of course, come race day, I told myself, whatever happens, will happen and my main goal was to just finish. Which I did. And I was so incredibly proud of myself for it, regardless of my 5 hour and 18 minute time.

Next time around though, I want to do a few things differently, chiefly, marking out my running schedule clearly on my calendar where the rest of my travel and work events are marked, so I can easily see what else I have going on any given day. I also need to be more realistic with myself when it comes how much I commit myself to during this time, meaning less trips. More time in NYC to train. And since I'll be running with a charity this time around (more on that to come soon), I feel like I have more than just myself to focus on. I have a team and a cause depending on me.

So what about the strength training part? Here's where my partnership with Equinox came in extremely handy. At first blush, I thought I could train for this marathon similar to how I had done it in college years ago. Just cardio. And like many of my college-age decisions, I realized that was stupid and would only lead to me getting injured. Since my running schedule called for lighter run days (around 3 or 4 miles), I would get my butt to a variety of strength training/toning classes offered at Equinox, like barre, pilates and even a few HIIT sessions. It definitely was hard at first to make time for these intervals, as I'm so used to just carving out time for running, but once I hit a rhythm, I could feel my body getting stronger. And my endurance and stamina improved overall.

This time around, I definitely want to focus on more HIIT classes, as I think they really work for my body and my attention span. Plus, it's summer folks. Time to get suit ready!

OUTFIT DETAILS: Eddie Bauer running tank // Lululemon running pants // Lululemon sports bra

Next... Outfits! Apprpriate running gear is essential. The better the fit, the more comfortably you can run and you don't feel like you're being held back by anything. The same goes to running shoes too. From head to toe, I wear appropriate sports bras, tops, leggings, shoes, and even socks as even the slightest wardrobe malfuction can distract you and put you off running.

Nutrition and sleep! So I like to think of myself as a relatively healthy eater, who doesn't refuse herself indulgences from time to time. I like to go out and eat dinner with friends. I like Summer Friday drinks. Guacamole and a good burger will always be my weakness. At the end of the day, I'll never be a Gwyneth Paltrow foodie -- I like fattening foods too much. And considering I was also cutting out most dairy from my diet at this time (for skin reasons that I talked about here), I didn't want to further restrict my diet, if I was busting my ass to run 12 or 13 miles.

Simply put, I drank plenty of water every day, made a point to make breakfast and lunch at home (with fruits, veggies, tuna sandwiches etc.) as often as I could and I didn't deny myself if I wanted an indulgent dinner (either at home or out). I listened to my body, which I think is easier said than done anytime you're putting your body through something like intense training, but my main goal was to never feel trapped or stuck. And you better believe after that marathon in Paris, I had the biggest steak dinner. EVER. And it was heaven.

Next time around, I think I'll push myself to make even more meals at home and focus on balancing the right nutrients to keep my body tip/top shape. I'm even picking up this book for this exact reason.

Lastly, SLEEP. Sleep made all the difference for me, which as I've confessed here before, I'm not great at getting it consistently. If I managed to squeeze in at least 7 hours most evenings, I could feel a big difference in my stamina the next day. My mind was alert, my body responded much faster and I literally felt lighter. Added bonus? My night owl tendencies actually lessened during this time. Suddenly, I was feeling exhausted around 10:30 at night, my mind and body both ready to tune out for the day. Isn't that a great feeling? Exhaustion from a day well spent.

Photos by Alisha Siegel