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
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
Unplanned Spontaneity
Running is repetitive -- meditative, even. Left foot, right foot. Breathe in, breathe out. There's a pre-run routine and a post-run routine. There's a set menu of foods to be eaten at certain times. There's a calm sense of knowing that comes with having favorite shoes, favorite trails, favorite neighborhood loops where when we return … Continue reading Unplanned Spontaneity
Knowing When to Quit
Running really has just two basic rules: Don't be an idiot. Don't be a hero. Any advice I could offer on running falls into one of these two buckets. It's incredibly important to make smart choices about your health, your training, your surroundings. It's equally important to make sure that those choices are rooted in … Continue reading Knowing When to Quit
Birds of a Feather
Running is a solitary sport. Both the successes and the failures are yours alone, and the point is to push your personal limits. It's just you and the road. No one can run the miles for you. While there are any number of community running groups or potential running buddies, the logistics of finding a … Continue reading Birds of a Feather
Forward Progress
I finished 16 miles this morning. I can't technically say I ran 16 because there was a lot of walking involved. Like, a lot. I'm getting into the most serious part of marathon training, and I've pretty much burned through my buffer weeks. (Loving reminder: ALWAYS build buffer weeks into your training plan! Life will … Continue reading Forward Progress
Hey, That’s My Friend You’re Talking About
After three off weeks in a row, I FINALLY got in a long run this morning. A good one, too! I'm pleased with my pace, my body cooperated, and I got the dang thing done as planned. Not a whole lot has changed recently. It's still a million degrees. I'm still up to my eyeballs … Continue reading Hey, That’s My Friend You’re Talking About
Not 100%
In a perfect world, I would have run 14-16 miles today, but instead I did six. One lesson running never fails to teach me is that I cannot control everything. I do not control everything. As a Type A partial robot, this is sometimes hard to admit. I like things to go according to plan. … Continue reading Not 100%
Keep Showing Up
There's a magic and prestige to the Boston Marathon that's hard to articulate. It's an exclusive club that's technically possible for mere mortals to join, but every year gets more competitive, so even the people who meet the criteria on paper still may not be fast enough to win the lottery and actually run the … Continue reading Keep Showing Up
Best Laid Plans
I absolutely love March. Beyond lions and lambs and Music In Our Schools Month, March means the return of spring, the return of daylight, the return of my fleeting interest in college basketball, and the return of that urge to organize my entire life. In a recent bout of spring cleaning, I came across my … Continue reading Best Laid Plans
The Secret
I'm still wrapping my head around exactly what I've signed myself up for. After completing one bad half marathon and another good one last winter, I kept the runner's high rolling by registering for the Chicago Marathon in October 2018. I've wanted to run this race since I saw and fell in love with Spirit of … Continue reading The Secret
Racing the Hare 