Author Archives: rileduprunner

History Lesson

When I reflect back on my formative years, it becomes clear that earlier versions of me made some pretty terrible judgment calls. My 2006 self believed driving from Maine to Orlando overnight was a wise travel decision. My 1995 self thought “party dude” Michelangelo would make the best Ninja Turtle husband. My 1991 self dressedContinue reading “History Lesson”

Sole Mates

I spent years of my life searching for my perfect match. When I was younger, my stipulations were simple indeed — fun, amusing, low-maintenance – but as I’ve learned more about myself and my needs, my priorities have changed. I began looking for stability, support, durability – a partner who would be in it forContinue reading “Sole Mates”

Higher Calling

Not quite a novice but by no means an expert, I clock in at around “mid-level” when it comes to many things in life. Spanish skills? Mid-level. Cooking skills? Mid-level. Spooning skills? Mid-level, unlike my niece, who is apparently a big-spoon connoisseur. The label “mid-level” is particularly apt when describing my running abilities. While I’veContinue reading “Higher Calling”

Pain in the Ash

Religion can be a complicated thing, at worst justifying discrimination and genocide, and at best, making it socially acceptable to dip your crackers in wine before noon. A semi-lapsed Episcopalian thriving in the heathen’s paradise that is New York City, I don’t practice my faith much outside of Christmas with the family and muttering “JesusContinue reading “Pain in the Ash”

Give It a Rest

I’m good at a lot of things (read: coloring, banter, modesty) but I’m aware there exist some gaping holes in my education as a citizen of the world. I never learned state capitals, for example, or to swim the butterfly. I never learned to ski or to patiently cook rice. I never learned to doContinue reading “Give It a Rest”

Pour Some Sugar on Me

If you turned on the TV yesterday, you were probably bombarded with news reports touting a new study published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine that shows Americans are eating entirely too much sugar. If you didn’t turn on the TV yesterday, $5 says you either don’t have a TV or the opposable thumbs toContinue reading “Pour Some Sugar on Me”

Novice No More

Since retiring my XL lounge-pants three years ago and committing myself to the sport of running, I’ve run 37 road races, two sub-4:00 marathons, thousands of miles and nearly out of goldendoodle photos to populate this blog. I wouldn’t call myself a running expert, per se — I only claim expertise in such indisputable areasContinue reading “Novice No More”

Reality Bites

In most of life’s situations, when it comes to choosing between real or unreal, reality wins out. In today’s 24-hour reporting cycle, for example, the most successful news is real time. One of the best things about your late 20s is knowing who your real friends are and taking real (i.e. non-megabus) transportation up theContinue reading “Reality Bites”