Category: Running

Dreams, courage, and guts

1

There is no telling how many miles you will have to run while chasing a dream.  ~Author Unknown I rolled over and looked at the clock. It read 4:15. The alarm hadn’t gone off yet because I had set it for 4:30 a.m. John was sleeping, so I tried to be as quiet as possible as I headed to the bathroom to start getting ready for the day. I looked out the hotel window: rain. As I brushed my teeth in the darkness, I thought about what was in store for us that day: John would be running his first ultramarathon: …

He’s Going the Distance

3

Tomorrow morning, John and I will wake up at 4:30 a.m., and John will prepare to run his first ultramarathon: The Vermont 50 Miler. He’s been training specifically for this event for months: getting up in the darkness to embark on 4 and 5 hour training runs, heading to the bridges of Southern New Jersey to run up and down, and up and down, and up and down, to simulate hill training (almost 9,000 feet of elevation change for tomorrow’s race), icing his feet, knees, and calves to reduce soreness and speed recovery. He hired a coach to help him …

It’s the most wonderful time of the year: Marathon Season!

4

As the weather gets cooler, the distances get longer. That’s right, people: it’s marathon season. While you can find a marathon during any time of this year, the fall season has a many, many options. And, there are also plentiful options for other racing distances: half marathons, 10 miles, 10K, 5k – and for those who really love endurance – ultras (50K or more). Recently, I was tweeting with a fellow runner (runningtops) who asked for tips for first time marathon runners. I offered her some of the tips that I thought worked well for me. Then, it occurred to me: perhaps …

Training connections

1

I’m going to come right out and say it: My family is awesome. Some of you might be rolling your eyes right now thinking this post is going to be some fake Beaver Cleaver nonsense. I can understand that: not everything about family is awesome. There are fights, misunderstandings, and other unpleasantness. Yet, since I started training for marathons and triathlons, and writing about this training on my blog, a series of events has reminded me of this simple idea: My family is awesome. Of course, my family was great before I started training, but pushing the limits of my body has …

Storms, treadmills, and perseverance

5

I woke up to 20-30 mph sustained winds with 40 mph gusts and torrents of rain. My backyard had been transformed into a pond, and the streets were strewn with tree limbs, puddles and downed power lines. This situation did not square well with the workout listed in my training plan: a 20 mile run. A run of this length is difficult enough. Add tropical storm force winds, rains, and live power lines and the challenge increases greatly. I’ve run in the rain, snow, ice and wind before. I’m not a fair-weather only kind of runner by any means. So, I …

The humbling long run: Lessons learned on individual nutrition needs

7

For the first time since I began running over 20 years ago, I had to finish a run by walking. This experience has humbled me, not-so-gently reminding me that I am not a perpetual motion machine. Parts do break and requiring fixing – or at least some rest. Until this run in question, I would type my workout in my training plan and when the prescribed day came, I would head out the door and do the workout. Now, I’ve been reminded that while I may finish, there are times that we have to adjust to what our body can …

Enjoy what the body can do

I read a profound statement in my friend Lorin’s blog the other day (VeganAsana: Adventures in Veganism and Yoga): “Wouldn’t it be great to always be in that place – to just live in the body and enjoy what it can do and be instead of critiquing what it is not?” I’ve been touched by the line since I read it, and have thought much about it. It’s reminded me about my long history of trouble with body image–and the lessons I have learned about my body from exercise and endurance training. I have had body issues of varying sorts since I was a young …

Running home: Atlantic City Boardwalk Run

5

For today’s long run (18 miles), I headed to the Atlantic City Boardwalk at 5:30 a.m. Last summer, I ran all of my long runs on the Boardwalk; this summer, I’ve done all of my long runs in the Pine Barrens, where my Half Ironman will be set. But, you know, I missed the Boardwalk. There is so much more to Atlantic City than casinos, and when I run the boardwalk I can feel a positive energy that makes me want to move. I feel like a runner when I’m cruising down the boards. For long runs, I travel on foot …

Dear Garmin Forerunner 405: I love you, but I need some space

2

I have a Garmin Forerunner 405, which is a GPS-enabled sports watch and heart rate monitor. As I run (or bike), it tells me: my heart rate at any given time my average and max heart rate for any given session my pace at any given time my average and max pace for any given session my time how far I’ve gone When I first purchased the Garmin, I was training for the Ocean Drive Marathon. At the time, I wanted a heart rate monitor and a watch that could calculate distance as I ran – rather than trying to …

Marathons are a gateway drug

2

This time last year, I was about one month into a marathon training plan. I was preparing for my first marathon, the Atlantic City Marathon. Prior to this experience, I had only raced in a 10 mile event and maybe one or two 5Ks for charities that I supported. But, for the most part, I just ran–and had been a runner since I was 13 years old. I didn’t compete. It was what I did to stay fit, and I really enjoyed the peace and fulfillment of a good run. As we grow older, we may begin to take the …