When somebody asks me what it is that I love about racing, I have a dozen and one answers up my sleeve – as well as the ability to tailor which one I pull out based on who, specifically, is behind the question. Athletic friend: Why do you love racing, champ? Me: My competitive sideContinue reading “Fatigue is Not a Dirty Word”
Author Archives: rileduprunner
Back in the Game
As I laced up my racing shoes this past weekend for my first timed trial since the Marine Corps Marathon, all signs were pointing to a terrible performance: My much faster racing partner who was going to pace me to a new PR had to bow out Sunday morning because of a massive hangover to save someContinue reading “Back in the Game”
Back on Track, Again
As I walked in on my brother’s dog polishing off an entire crockpot of gravy suspiciously left at mutt-level during post-Thanksgiving clean-up, it became immediately clear that she and I are related. Sure, I might not down a gallon of turkey grease in one fell swoop if left unsupervised in the garage,* but without constantContinue reading “Back on Track, Again”
Marathon Weight Gain
There are plenty of good reasons to run a marathon: the sense of personal achievement, raising money for a cause, offending a bear on a 26.1-mile-long chain. There’s also at least one bad reason to run one: to lose weight. As counterintuitive as it may seem, signing on to run a four-hour-long road race isContinue reading “Marathon Weight Gain”
Life After 26.2
You know that feeling when you’ve been writing a blog about running for almost a year in anticipation of your inaugural marathon and then after running that marathon can no longer think of anything interesting to write about and consider just posting photos of your brother’s goldendoodle on the internet instead? No, you don’t knowContinue reading “Life After 26.2”
Accidental Recovery
After four months of painstakingly disciplined marathon training, I had big plans to throw caution to the wind this week and disregard everything I’d ever read about post-marathon recovery. A tad hubristic, sure, but after 16 weeks of scheduled workouts and calculated nutrition and near-religious adherence to a calendar, I wanted nothing more when IContinue reading “Accidental Recovery”
Oh hey, I Ran a Marathon.
I’ve been planning out my post-marathon blog post for probably longer than I actually trained for the marathon itself. I figured I’d start by reminding everyone that I ran a marathon, and then tell everyone I didn’t break 4:00 but would get there next time and then post the following video clip to sum upContinue reading “Oh hey, I Ran a Marathon.”
A Salute to My Troops
With the starting gun of the Marine Corps Marathon just a few short hours away, I could use this space today to talk about this morning’s two-mile shake-out run (refreshingly brisk), my post-run stretching routine (deplorably inadequate) or my candy corn-filled carb-loading breakfast (scientifically nutritious.) But for once (ok, for twice), I’d like to takeContinue reading “A Salute to My Troops”
Against the Wind
I’ve spent all week preparing for my upcoming marathon in every way I know how. I’ve been carb-loading. (“Why yes, deli man, I will top my bagel with a slice of French toast.”) I’ve been staying off my legs. (“Sorry, pregnant lady, I kind of need this subway seat myself.”) I’ve been memorizing the courseContinue reading “Against the Wind”
The End of an Era
Everyone warned me this day was coming. The day I’d wake up, lace up my racing shoes, power my way through a course and – despite all my efforts – walk away without a PR. After managing 19 consecutive personal bests – or a new individual record for every year Miley Cyrus has been aliveContinue reading “The End of an Era”
Riled Up Runner 