NYRR – Riled Up Runner

Orlando

Runners, do you remember your first organized race in the days and weeks following the Boston Marathon bombing? If your experience was anything like mine, it almost looked like a normal day. We still woke up at an ungoldly hour. We still slathered our whole wheat toast with peanut butter in one final ditch effortContinue reading “Orlando”

Exorcising (Exercising?) My Demons

I’ve reached an age* where nearly everything can make me cry. *Just kidding, I’ve always been like this. Seriously though, it doesn’t matter whether the event is big or small, happy or sad. Practically any wave of emotion will turn on the waterworks, and the variety of experiences that can set me off is downrightContinue reading “Exorcising (Exercising?) My Demons”

Good and Ready

When I tell people I’m training for the New York City Marathon, I get one of four responses. Cool. Is this your first? (Nope, it’s my second NYC and my fourth overall. Please don’t let your face drop in disappointment when I reveal I’ve done this before: I’m still excited like a butterball turkey whoContinue reading “Good and Ready”

Fifty Minutes

Despite cautionary tales of shin splints, achy backs and a lifetime of knee pain, most runners irrefutably know that our sport generally changes us for the better. Run for two weeks and feel your legs strengthen and posture improve. Run for six months and marvel at your increased lung capacity, endurance and speed. Run forContinue reading “Fifty Minutes”

Goaling, Goaling, Gone

They tell you to shoot for the moon because if you miss, you’ll still be among the stars. I’ve seen Gravity, though, and I know overshooting the moon didn’t work out so well for Mr. Clooney. Likewise, overshooting when it comes to fitness goals is a dangerous endeavor. At best, setting a lofty goal andContinue reading “Goaling, Goaling, Gone”

Resolution Revision

I could come up with a whole host of excuses why my first race of the new year was nearly six minutes slower than my 10K PR. The roads were icy. The humidity was harsh. I’d stayed out too late the evening before drinking cider, playing Jenga and forcing my friend Davy to wear aContinue reading “Resolution Revision”

City Love

Yesterday I ran a little local New York City road race and came within 50 seconds of a new PR. You came within 50 seconds of your 3:51:51 Marine Corps Marathon PR despite New York City’s infamously challenging hills and last week’s illness? That’s wonderful! You may be thinking. Even Meb had to walk! Oh,Continue reading “City Love”

On Your Mark

I’ve never doubted the caliber of my friends, but in case I needed some sort of reaffirmation, the outflowing of support following my Thursday night blog post undoubtedly sealed the proverbial deal. “Just reading your blog,” one texted me later that night. “Haven’t gotten to the end (is there a happy ending?) but I amContinue reading “On Your Mark”

Ill-Timing

I woke up this morning prepared to tell you how – despite all my training hiccups and anxieties and fears – I was finally excited for the marathon. I was going to tell you how I ran eight well-rested miles Monday and felt like I was flying. I was going to tell you how IContinue reading “Ill-Timing”

The Final Countdown

A lot can change in a month. One month is enough time for the moon to orbit the entire Earth, or so my advanced degree in astrophysics has led me to believe. One month is enough time for — count ’em — eleven magazines to pile up next to my bed in the vain hopeContinue reading “The Final Countdown”