Two weeks ago I ran a mess of a 20-miler. I was exhausted, feeling low, and stuck in the mud. I questioned why I keep putting myself through the struggles of marathon training. Running hurts. It takes up all my time. I’m constantly tired and hungry (a combination that never ends well). Then last weekend … Continue reading The Pains of Taper Madness
Author: Kate Ellingsen
Running brings me immense joy and peace. Like the fabled tortoise, my pace is slow and steady. I ran my first marathon in 2011, then lost my focus following a cross country move in 2012, gradually working my way back to 26.2 miles. I have no aspirations of qualifying for the Olympics or even Boston. The road is big enough for all runners, and my only goal is to be happy and well.
Location: Portland, OR
26.2 x 6 &
13.1 x 13
No Mud, No Lotus
The path to success is usually by way of repetition. Musicians practice scales. Basketball players drill free throws. Students learn vocabulary words with flash cards. As we all learned in elementary school, if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. We drill good behavior until it becomes second nature so that we can perform … Continue reading No Mud, No Lotus
Instagram Is A Liar
Perfect smiles. Beautiful families. Delicious meals. Gorgeous sunsets. Scroll through Instagram for even a minute, and you’ll see these bright shining images portraying the highlights of our friends’ lives. Everyone looks so happy. Everyone is eating so well. Everyone’s skin is perfect. Everyone is somehow always on vacation. As much as we rationally know that … Continue reading Instagram Is A Liar
Dear Running…
Happy Valentine's Day, Running. You've been a constant love in my life for nearly two decades, and by "constant" I mean anything but. I ran a lot when I was younger, and then I didn't, and then I gradually built my way back (with a handful of setbacks along the way). We've had a bumpy … Continue reading Dear Running…
Miles Ahead
The end of the year practically demands introspection. I've never been one for life-changing expectations when flipping the page of a calendar, but I can certainly appreciate taking a few moments to reflect on the past while setting intentions for the future. 2018 was a challenging year -- both the good kind of challenge that … Continue reading Miles Ahead
Everybody’s Going Streaking
During the coldest months of the year, runners everywhere are streaking. As a quick translation for the non-runners, streaking means running at least one mile every day for as long a streak as possible. Runners treat this as a badge of honor, boasting about hitting 100, 500, 1000 day streaks, and streaking becomes especially popular … Continue reading Everybody’s Going Streaking
Slowly Getting Faster
It's no secret that I'm slow. Through the years I've done a lot to process my ever-changing body, and for the most part I've come to terms with my speed. However that doesn't mean I want to give up all together. There's a difference between accepting your current situation and accepting it as your eternal … Continue reading Slowly Getting Faster
What Comes Next?
It's been two and a half weeks since Chicago, which in 2018 time means it feels like 84 years. The marathon was somehow yesterday and also a lifetime ago, and I've spent the last 18 days reflecting on the ups and downs of a notoriously flat race. A destination race is wonderful way to visit … Continue reading What Comes Next?
Letting Go of Letting Go
I had a draft I was ready to post tonight about letting go. It was lovely. I wrote about the seasons and how fall is the time of letting go, and how I was working to let go of expectations about speed and body image. You would have loved it. But after reading about Kavanaugh's … Continue reading Letting Go of Letting Go
You Belong
Time is the most precious resource we have. Now that I'm in the thick of marathon training, time has become as much a challenge as the distance. For starters, scheduling is no small feat -- carving out enough hours every week not only to run but also to hydrate, stretch, strength train, meal plan, rest, recover, … Continue reading You Belong
