About

Hi, I’m Elise and welcome to PhD Strides!  I am a 25 year old PhD Student in economics who loves to cook and run (and just spend time outdoors).

              

I moved to California in August 2010 to start working towards my dream job of being a Professor and Researcher of Law & Economics.

Photo of San Francisco from Sausalito

I was born & raised in Minnesota, went to Michigan for college and moved to Chicago after graduation, where I lived for two years before moving to California.  I might be a California girl now, but my roots and a large part of my heart will always belong to the Midwest, usually on the ski hill or in/on the water.

      

The random facts:

• I couldn’t cook until college.  Now I like to think of myself as a ‘profficient’ in the area, even though I’m self taught and probably do nothing ‘correctly.’
• I play the oboe.  I have played it for 13 years.  I am the ‘poster child’ of a band geek.  I embrace it
• I tore my ACL playing soccer in 2002 when I was 15.  I’ve since had two knee surgeries to repair it (last one 2005).
• I am a lifetime Girl Scout.  And proud of of it.  But no, I don’t sell Girl Scout cookies.  Sorry to disappoint.
• I started downhill & water skiing when I was 3.  I had my first downhill ski accident when I was 4.  I picked up cross country ski racing in high school: yes we race cross country skiing in high school in Minnesota.  And no, we haven’t lost our minds, just our sense of touch.
• I speak fluent Spanish…after 4 glasses of wine.
• I am allergic to cow dairy.  But I chow down on goat and sheep cheese like you wouldn’t believe.
• I live to travel and I travel to live.  I plan my life around vacations.
• I totally geek out over economics, data and empirical findings (data that supports theory).  Yes, I’m a nerd.
• I hated ‘just’ running until 2006.  You couldn’t have paid me to do it.
• I ran my first race in the fall of 2007 when I did my first race ever in Buenos Aires, Argentina for the Nike 10k.  I’ve never looked back.
• I became a Marathoner in 2010 when I completed the Nike Women’s Marathon in October 2010.

The lovely Julia and I post Nike Women’s Marathon 2010 (yes…the pain was as real as it looks).  We’re running the half again in 2011.  Look for us!!!

So, in a nutshell, this blog is an account of random (usually nerdy, food or athletic) happenings in my California life as I go through grad school, try to eat healthy, exercise, and maintain a ‘normal’ social life.  (‘Normal’ is left open for interpretation.)

E-mail me at: phdstrides@gmail.com.  I’d love to hear from you!

I am not a licensed nutritionist or doctor, so please consult a doctor or licensed nutritionist before making any drastic changes to your diet or physical activity