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
Category: Training
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
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
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
Unprofessional
A friend and I had an argument recently. I had set an early curfew for myself to be rested for my run the next morning, but when I started to leave my friend said, "You're not a professional, you know. You don't need to be this strict about everything. It's not like you're gunning for … Continue reading Unprofessional
Fresh Start
A new year practically demands introspection. As runners we tend to be focused on the road ahead of us, but it's nearly impossible to begin a new year without looking back on the old one. 2015 was The Year of Significant Life Changes, and running kept me sane through the worst of it. During the past … Continue reading Fresh Start
The Optimist
I don't consider myself an optimist. Chipper affirmations are usually met with a wince and a heavy amount of side-eye. What may be intended as positivity is received as trite, simplistic, and belittling. Oh you have a problem? Chin up, sunshine. Everything happens for a reason. Life doesn't just work out because we smile and … Continue reading The Optimist
Best Laid Plans
Plan A is lovely. Plan A is preferred. Plan A is the best intentions of our best prepared best self. There's a reason it's at the top of the list. There's also a reason why we usually end up on plan B (or C or D...). Life is too messy for Plan A. The A … Continue reading Best Laid Plans
