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Six weeks ago I ran a half marathon. It didn't go well. I mean, I finished uninjured, so it went fine, but even factoring my low expectations, it wasn't the race I wanted. On the elevation map, the hills looked gradual enough where I didn't take them seriously. As a result, I was massively underprepared. … Continue reading An Object in Motion

Tomorrow I run a half marathon - my first of the year, and my tenth ever. The race is a silly Halloween event, and I've already made my peace with not setting a PR. It's just a fact that I won't be as fast or as strong as I was a year ago. Last year … Continue reading Back on Track

I've been awfully quiet lately. I haven't been running as much and I haven't been writing as much, and I certainly haven't been writing about running very much at all. Priorities changed a few months ago, and recently everyone's been focusing (correctly) on calling our senators daily and marching for our lives. Amidst all this, … Continue reading One Step at a Time

I fell over in yoga today, and it wasn't even that tough of a pose. I'm slowly getting back into a routine of exercising, and it isn't going all that well. This is stuff hard. Really hard. Not that long ago that I was super strong at all this -- I could run really far! And balance … Continue reading Humble Re-Beginnings

I run a marathon tomorrow. I know it's going to hurt, but I'm not worried. If there's one thing my Midwestern background taught me, it's how to suffer. I grew up enduring 100 degree summers with humidity and mosquitoes, followed by bone-chilling winters with blizzards that just won't quit. I cheered for sports teams that will … Continue reading Hurts So Good

Running is good for the heart -- this isn't groundbreaking news. Running helps the heart pump stronger and more efficiently, it lowers the the production of glucose which can lead to diabetes, and it helps prevent heart disease. But most people think of benefits in strictly biological terms. Running is good for your heart, but not just with regard … Continue reading Heart Healthy

I've never been much of a risk taker. Rock climbing? No thanks. Skydiving? I'll pass. I like facts. I like figures. I like rulebooks and maps. I prefer classical music to jazz, and I can't even fathom going to a restaurant without properly vetting the menu online. This love of the known translates to my … Continue reading Risk Worth Taking

Training for a race is book-ended by excitement. On the front end, there's the rush of registering -- the planning and potential. On the back end, there's the thrill of finishing -- the motivation and medals. Both ends are events in their own right, and each is worthy of praise, enthusiasm, and cleverly worded Facebook posts. … Continue reading Halfway

No matter how many miles I've logged, I'm still surprised by how hard running can be. Heavy legs. Fried brain. In completely over my head. I've been running over half my life. You'd think I'd be better at this by now, but I'm making it up as I go. Some miles are a struggle. I hit the mother … Continue reading Just A Little Farther

Few joys rival a pure runner's high -- the strength, the adrenaline, the power. One positive rush can propel a runner to greater speeds or distances, and make even most jaded athlete love the experience. But highs like that are rare and unpredictable, and the miles between them can be brutal. Bad runs turn into … Continue reading Not Always In Love