Month: May 2014

I've never been much for New Year's resolutions. January 1 is an arbitrary date to make a life change, there's already so much pressure during the holidays, and surviving the winter is daunting enough as is.  But that's not to say there isn't value in taking a step back. It's important to evaluate where you … Continue reading Resolutions

Running is a an enormous sport, to the point where it's unofficially split into two categories: those who run to compete, and those who run to complete. As someone who has never been fast (even in peak fitness I average 11:30 minute miles), I've always associated with the latter group. Any competition is internal. Can I go … Continue reading The Reward of Running

Don't let perfect be the enemy of good.  I ran one mile this morning. It may seem insignificant, but a short run is better than no run at all.  An endless To Do list and full work day brought me home sooner than usual. I could have skipped the run altogether and jumped right into … Continue reading The Enemy of Good

It's a long day in the middle of a long week. Yes, it's Friday, but the weekend is completely booked with no signs of stopping. It's exactly the kind of day to pull the covers over my head and wait out the storm, but that's simply not an option. I woke up early this morning … Continue reading Peace of Mind

Small victories are rarely celebrated enough. I ran four miles today, and the first one felt great.  Miles two and three felt fine, and the fourth was admittedly tough, but the first mile felt great. This is an accomplishment worth noting. I haven't run more than three miles in almost a year, but today I … Continue reading Small Victories

Running is the most inclusive sport, which is why I love it so much. All are welcome here. There are no complicated rules to learn, or passwords to memorize, or membership fees to pay. It's just left foot, right foot. You move your legs and go. I need to keep reminding myself of this as I gradually … Continue reading All Are Welcome

Well, that didn't take long.  Less than a week after I started my miraculous spreadsheet, I'm already off schedule. There was the day I overslept, and the day it was cold and rainy, and the day my legs were sore from walking in a hilly neighborhood. All one-offs, but they add up. Laziness creeps up … Continue reading Easier Said Than Done

Spreadsheets give me immense satisfaction. I'm baffled how anyone gets anything done without them. Seeing data plotted out so neatly, in nice straight rows and columns makes any task seem possible.  I established my training plan today, and it feels terrific. My Excel document is a tidy, concrete way to hold myself accountable without getting … Continue reading Rows and Columns

Exsiste hic iam. Be here now.  I've loved this phrase for years, to the point where I considered getting a tattoo of it when A) I still spoke Latin, and B) I still thought tattoos were a good idea. Neither of those are true anymore, but it's a mantra I continue to carry with me. It's … Continue reading Exsiste hic iam

A year ago I ran a marathon. Yesterday I ran one mile, and it was hard. Like most parts of life, running goes in waves. At times I'm incredibly disciplined, at times I struggle with motivation. Some days I feel amazing, other days I feel awful. But I keep at it because running keeps me … Continue reading Starting Line