Mel Runs

The Allergist & a 12 Minute Workout

After months of Dave pushing for me to go to an allergist to assess why I can’t stop sneezing, I finally set up an appointment. I don’t know why I avoided doing this for so long. It’s as if I had a crooked picture hanging on the wall in my office, and refused to get [...]

We Spent How Much At the Grocery Store?!

When Dave and I moved to Austin, we both assumed that due to the lower cost of living and change in lifestyle compared to Manhattan, we’d have an opportunity to save some money. The truth is though, since arriving here five months ago, my savings account has gone nowhere but down. What the eff? This [...]

Introducing Austin Personal Trainer King Kohn

The Short Story Who: King Kohn Quote: “What else in this life is there to do if not to follow your screaming heart?” Why he’s awesome: A body builder in his past life, King manages to instill all the expertise of a true muscle making expert, but with the grace of a holistic healer. Specialties: [...]

How Much Splenda Is Safe In One Day?

This morning, like every other morning, my alarm clock went off at an always-feels-too-early 7am, and my dog jumped on me and licked my face. I sat up, sneezed 10,000 times (thank you Texas allergens) and dragged my feet over to the coffee maker. Four scoops in, four cups of water added, power on, and [...]

Help! I can’t stop eating!

Did you ever have one of those days where it seems like you can eat, and eat, and eat, yet never feel satisfied? Well, I’m having one of those weeks. Yesterday and the day before (and yes, the one before that, too) I might as well have planted my office in the kitchen of my [...]

Introducing Personal Trainer Chris Bradsher

The Short Story Who: Chris Bradsher Why he’s awesome: Trains you with a very deep understanding of how to work with the biomechanics of your body to develop your desired outcome, teaching you all he knows along the way, while also making you laugh a little Specialties: Weight loss/gain, Strength and resistance training, Diet and [...]

I Can’t Run For Long. Am I In Shape?

When I used to focus my exercise solely on running–after competitive running in high school, that is–I thought that I wasn’t in “good” shape unless I could run three miles under thirty minutes without breaking a sweat. And by that benchmark, well, I was actually never in shape again after 21 years old, which was [...]

Four Realistic Ways to Think About Fitness

I’m headed away for the weekend, so I’ll leave you today with a reminder of how to think about fitness in a way that’s manageable. You got this, friend . This post was originally published on December 5, 2011. — Two things happen when people I meet find out I’m studying to become a personal [...]

A Coconut Water Addiction and 20 Minute Treadmill Workout

I happen to love all things coconut, so naturally when coconut water first blew up on the market two years ago I was extremely excited. Coconut water is the kind of thing I only expected to get when on vacation in the Bahamas from a street vendor (which I always do, except I add a [...]

Exciting Personal Trainer News & A Hearty Lentil Soup Recipe

Exciting News for Mel Runs I’ve been talking to a lot of people in Austin, and it seems so many are looking for a solid personal trainer recommendation. It’s kind of an expensive gamble to take on a trainer that may or may not be what you’re looking for. Amiright or amiright? Well, good news! [...]