We all love a good underdog story. We love to watch the weak or underestimated rise up victoriously as David slays Goliath or Rudy sacks the quarterback in the final play of the game. We see ourselves in these underdogs, and we want to believe that we, too, could rise victoriously against all odds. Two … Continue reading In It For the Long Run
Category: Uncategorized
The Pains of Taper Madness
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
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…
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%
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 