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Chicago Marathon Training: Week Fifteen
Posted on September 22, 2013 5 Comments
Week fifteen was my last intense set of workouts before beginning to taper. The week had three fantastic runs. Thrown in was one “easy” run that felt junky, with noticeable shin pain. It caused me to take an unscheduled rest day, which helped. Closed the week out with an amazing set of intervals and a […]
Chicago Marathon Training: Week Fourteen
Posted on September 18, 2013 5 Comments
Week fourteen was a funky training week. It was probably the most I’d fallen off schedule, so far. It kicked off with a fantastic long tempo run. After that, the weather reared its ugly head. High temperatures, crazy humidity, and a terrible storm all played their part in derailing my week. Real life got in […]
Motivation: Real Life
Posted on September 13, 2013 1 Comment
Last night I tried to run my mile repeats in that horrible torrential onslaught of rain. I made it about 5.5 miles through when the bike path along the water was abandoned, and the lightning overhead was threatening enough to call it quits. Wasn’t happy about that internal debate, but I didn’t want to take […]
Chicago Marathon Training: Week Thirteen
Posted on September 8, 2013 1 Comment
Week thirteen was another higher mileage week. It also required more schedule manipulation than usual due to my personal schedule. Had to move runs to the AM, PM, and switched my interval day. Resulted in some seriously fatigued legs on Thursday. Thankfully a rest day got them ready to run long, which meant ending the […]
Chicago Marathon Training: Week Twelve
Posted on September 1, 2013 Leave a Comment
Week twelve capped off August training. This week’s running pushed me into the highest mileage month I’ve ever logged. I made it out of the city for a few days, to bid farewell to the summer in Fire Island. Was beautiful to see the beach blanketed by dark clouds (so moody, I love it). I […]
Monthly Mileage: August 2013
Posted on September 1, 2013 3 Comments
That’s a PR in monthly mileage! Compared to July 2013: 150.39 miles.
Monthly Mileage: July 2013
Posted on August 1, 2013 2 Comments

Ramping up the marathon training mileage. Compared to June 2013: 92.75 miles.
CPTC Founder’s 5K
Posted on July 28, 2013 13 Comments

Coach: So you’re ready to run fast tomorrow. Me: Believe so, Coach. Coach: That wasn’t a question. You are ready. A few weeks ago, Coach Kevin requested I get a 5K race on the calendar. The intent being to benchmark my current fitness, and fine-tune my Chicago Marathon training paces. This made me giddy. I’d […]
Chicago Marathon Training: Week Five
Posted on July 13, 2013 1 Comment

Week five saw my first 5 runs/week scheduled out of three marathon training cycles (love it), running in Nike LunaRacers (nice), and weekly mileage that nearly exceeds last cycle’s peak mileage (wow!). Monday Run: Tempo. Expected a battle of a run due to heat, humidity, and nasal congestion. Instead, was greeted with that “feel like […]
Chicago Marathon Training: Week Four
Posted on July 7, 2013 2 Comments

Week four consisted of more hot and humid running (makes for a strong fall), a thwarted attempt to run in Nikes (fate?), and a really satisfying round of intervals (love, love, love). Monday Run: Tempo. Evening run. Warmed up comfortably; started to drop pace at end of warmup to head into tempo miles. Set Garmin to […]
Chicago Marathon Training: Week Three
Posted on June 30, 2013 Leave a Comment

Week three featured heat and humidity (’tis summer), a full week of workouts (hooray!), a fantastic-feeling interval session (elated!), and popsicles after the NYRR Pride Run (heaven). Monday Run: Tempo. Holy freaking hot. Granted, running a tempo at noon in summer isn’t ideal. But, that’s what worked with my schedule. Took advantage of water sprinklers […]
Chicago Marathon Training: Week Two
Posted on June 23, 2013 Leave a Comment
Week two: New racing flats (total awesomeness), speed work (more awesomeness), and a Philly run (so lovely). Monday: Run. Tempo. Adore tempo runs; they’re always my favorite workout. Can’t wait for these to pick up in mileage. Had to cut cool down short by few minutes because of time constraint. Fueled with one packet of protein-enhanced UCAN. […]
I’m A Bit Type A…A5, That Is
Posted on June 19, 2013 1 Comment
Without further ado, meet the Saucony Type A5! More to come once they’ve got a few speed sessions under their belt… Weight: 5.2 oz (women’s) Drop: 4mm
Feet, Meet Flats!
Posted on June 18, 2013 13 Comments

This past Sunday, I did a tour de running shops. Mission: test various racing flats. It’s what we runners call “due diligence,” right? Except it’s way more fun, akin to opening loads of birthday presents. After some interesting conversation and a few test runs, I’ve chosen my first flats! Without further ado, meet the Contenders: […]
Chicago Marathon Training: Week One
Posted on June 16, 2013 6 Comments
Week one: a return to speed work (love) and tempo runs (love). Learning to slow down those long and easy runs (dealing). Monday: Run. Tempo. First tempo session since Eugene Marathon. Soft surface run – bridle path/reservoir. Felt fantastic! Fueled with one packet of protein-enhanced UCAN. Plan = 15 min wu; 1 mi @ 8:10-8:20 min/mi; […]
A Mile in Pre’s Shoes?
Posted on June 14, 2013 8 Comments

One item on my training to-do list is buy racing flats. More precisely, get professionally fitted for them. I’d be remiss if I didn’t admit I’ve dreamed of this. I equate racing flats with Pre, elites, pros, the fastest of the fast. Now it’s my turn? Well, not because of some qualifying standard. Coach says […]
Oakley New York Mini 10K
Posted on June 11, 2013 3 Comments

Let me first admit: it’s been over a month since I last posted. Leave it to you, Oakley New York Mini 10K, to help break the silence. This was my fourth year running the Mini. I quite like this race. It’s a fantastic distance (long enough to pace, way shorter than a marathon), a nice […]
Eugene Marathon: Pre-Race Thoughts
Posted on April 27, 2013 4 Comments
With my shakeout run done and the race tomorrow, it seems a good time to reflect on some pre-race feelings. Speaking of Pre, there are signs of the larger-than-life legend everywhere. The track where Pre ran is beautiful and open, and largely unchanged from photos I’ve seen of him dominating his hometown turf. It’s not […]