Archives
What’s Next: 2014 Spring Season
Posted on December 5, 2013 6 Comments
“Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after the other.” Walter Elliot ~ After the Chicago Marathon, and while my stress fracture healed, I began to wonder: what’s next. With every marathon I’d run, I immediately had the next 26.2 lined up. Until Chicago. Not only did I not have […]
Giving Thanks
Posted on December 2, 2013 1 Comment
“Anyone who ever gave you confidence, you owe them a lot.” Truman Capote, Breakfast at Tiffany’s ~ Yes, it’s indeed time to make some decisions about spring goals. As I look forward, I’d also like to express my profound and heartfelt appreciation to those who support me. Their continued encouragement is not only amazing, but […]
Closing The Chicago Chapter
Posted on November 29, 2013 7 Comments
“Each goal achieved is equally a dream destroyed.” Reinhold Messner ~ Thank you kindly for the introduction, Reinhold. I should add: my marathon dream is still very much intact. The Chicago Marathon was a beautiful race on a day made for marathoning. The conditions were ideal, and I lined up feeling confident. My mind was […]
Chicago Marathon Training: Week Seventeen
Posted on October 7, 2013 1 Comment
Week seventeen’s runs were pretty darn good. Perhaps minus Wednesday’s easy run, as that workout never feels great, to me. That aside, the runs went smoothly and my legs feel more recovered. Taper’s progressing along quite nicely, and I’m not experiencing taper madness as much as I have previously. At the time of publication, less […]
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 […]
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: […]
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 […]
2013 Spring Marathon Season: Eugene
Posted on January 18, 2013 5 Comments
“You must not only aim right, but draw the bow with all your might.” Henry David Thoreau ~ I’m not a New Year’s resolution kind of person. There’s nothing about the calendar hitting January 1 that drives me to make changes. When I see fit, I change. When I need to, I change. And, when […]
NYC Runs Central Park 10-Miler
Posted on January 13, 2013 13 Comments
Today was the NYC Runs Central Park 10-Miler, my first official timed event of the year. While I hesitate to classify this as a true race recap – I went in decidedly not racing the course – it was a great way to usher in spring marathon training. When Ashley mentioned running this together, I […]
Pensacola Marathon Training: Week 17
Posted on November 20, 2012 2 Comments
Week seventeen wound up being an extra week of taper to carry me through to Pensacola Marathon on November 11. Wrapped up training feeling strong and healthy. Who would have guessed the outcome of the marathon, then? Thus proving that even when training’s spot on, a good race isn’t necessarily guaranteed. Monday: Rest day. Tuesday: […]
2012 Fall Season Conclusion: Pensacola Marathon
Posted on November 17, 2012 12 Comments
Write injuries in dust, benefits in marble. Benjamin Franklin ~ To start with the obvious, this training and racing cycle was full of unprecedented and unpredictable events. A hurricane swept in the week before the NYC Marathon and wreaked havoc on the five boroughs. The race was on! The race was off! Never before had […]
The Road Diverged: Pensacola Marathon
Posted on November 5, 2012 6 Comments
“A bend in the road is not the end of the road…unless you fail to make the turn.” Author Unknown ~ By now, we all know the 2012 New York City Marathon story. It became the “race that wasn’t” amid natural devastation and a dose of controversy. I admit my emotions have scaled a far-reaching […]
NYC Marathon Training: Week 16
Posted on November 5, 2012 4 Comments
Week sixteen was meant to be the final week of NYC Marathon training, ending with 26.2 miles through the five boroughs. Hurricane Sandy swept in on Monday, devastating neighborhoods, causing flooding and power outages. After the storm subsided, the NYC Marathon was announced to be on-schedule, as planned. I picked up my race bib on […]
NYC Marathon Training: Week 15
Posted on October 27, 2012 2 Comments
Week fifteen was full of crazy taper emotions. One minute excited, the next full of nerves. Cut back on some cross-training, and have poured all energy into keeping my speed work sharp. Am starting to get my gear and plan organized for next weekend. You see that? I said, “next weekend.” One week until RACE […]
Tapering With Gratitude
Posted on October 26, 2012 8 Comments
“Rest and be thankful.” William Wordsworth ~ With the longest training runs behind me, taper is in full effect. It’s now just over a week until race day. The past week’s been full of emotions that undulate much like the NYC Marathon course. One moment is electrified by nerves and a tightening of the gut; […]
NYC Marathon Training: Week 14
Posted on October 21, 2012 4 Comments
Week fourteen was the start of taper. Speed work and tempo runs maintained their intensity; long run shortened but required marathon pace. Time to let the body rebuild, and get race day necessities in order. Most importantly, time to appreciate the journey that began in the July heat. Excitement for race day is starting to […]
NYC Marathon Training: Week 13
Posted on October 14, 2012 6 Comments
Week thirteen finally ushers in taper! Increased final long run from 20 to 22 miles. Overall, coming out of this week feeling accomplished! As they say: all the hard work is done. Now it’s time to start lowering mileage, keep up pace, and rest up for race day. 20 days and counting. Monday: Rest day. […]
NYC Marathon Training: Week 12
Posted on October 7, 2012 2 Comments
Week twelve was an excellent running week. Some faster paced runs are making training fall into place. This was the second to last long run before taper. Over all, my body is feeling good with the mileage and the pace. Monday: Rest day. Tuesday: Intervals. Running commute in the form of mile repeats to get […]
I’ve Changed My Mind
Posted on October 4, 2012 12 Comments
“You have to want it, you have to plan for it, you have to fit it into a busy day, you have to be mentally tough, you have to use others to help you. The hard part isn’t getting your body in shape. The hard part is getting your mind in shape.” ~ Amby Burfoot […]
NYC Marathon Training: Week 11
Posted on September 30, 2012 6 Comments
Week eleven brought September to a close in the most fantastic way. It was an incredible week in which I met or exceeded training paces for all three running workouts. That’s a first for this training cycle. I’m encouraged to see evidence of progress. I feel more capable on my long runs lately. Sure the […]
Long Run Redemption
Posted on August 27, 2012 3 Comments
“We can be redeemed only to the extent to which we see ourselves.” Martin Buber ~ Run long enough and bad runs are bound to surface. They’re certainly not subtle when they do. Last Saturday I had one of the worst runs of this training cycle, thus far. My schedule called for 20 miles; I […]
