This past weekend, I ran my 90th race EVER. 90 races. All since I began racing in 2007. As a Skirt Sports Ambassador, I've been asked to write about my most "real" race ever. And I have to tell you, every single race was real. Every single race was the most real race ever. Every single race has taught me something about myself. … [Read more...]
Thinking Out Loud Thursday: End of Year Craziness
It seems like every year at this time I feel like I'm hanging on by the tips of my fingernails. All of the end of the year activities, combined with a few unplanned adventures (lightning'd out tryouts, sore throats, exploding milk jugs) leave me feeling like I'm only a second away from one of the many balls in the air landing on my head. Thankfully, we are almost to the finish line and the normal crazy that is my life will return. … [Read more...]
Skirt Sports 13er Giveaway!
We all know I love the half marathon distance (guess that's why I've done 39 of them LOL). It's a challenge, but it's a distance that's manageable to train for with a busy life. But really, is it just "half"? No! … [Read more...]
Skirt Sports #REALwomenmove
I'm made no secret of my love of Skirt Sports products. A skirt that is well made, cute, fits me well, and allows me to run without chafe? Sign me up. Or perhaps just take my credit card... But since I became an ambassador last year, I've fallen more and more in love with the company as well. From their Kickstarter program that helps women become runners to their partnering with Kathrine Switzer and 261 Fearless to their newest initiative #REALwomenmove, Skirt Sports is all about embowering women to get out there and take chances. What is #REALwomenmove? It's a movement to inspire women of all shapes, size, age, ethnicity, lifestyle, marital status, family situation, etc to MOVE. It's a movement to empower women to embrace … [Read more...]
Skirt Sports Katherine Tank: my new fave
Today's topic for Tuesdays on the Run is Favorite Warm Weather Gear or Tips. Patty, April and I are sharing ours. Won't you share yours? We all know that I love to run in skirts and my favorite skirt is the Happy Girl, so I'm not going to talk about that item today. After all, I've given it plenty of love over the years. Also, I've given up my best tips before. So instead, I'm sharing my new favorite: the Katherine Tank from Skirt Sports. I LOVE this tank. I actually own a number of non-running shirts in a very similar style, so I knew I was going to love it from the minute I saw it. I was lucky enough to try out the purple tank before it became publicly available and it was totally love at first wear. Never mind that there was still … [Read more...]
Thinking out loud Thursday: Marathon Musings
I'm joining Amanda from Running with Spoons again for some thinking out loud. Don't you just love that I've started doing a brain dump on you on Thursdays??? As you might imagine, the topic most on my mind right now is my upcoming marathons. I'm not really going taper crazy (although there is this weird pain in my foot...), but I am starting to get nervous. My training plan went really well, so I should be fine, but I have a problem. I'm struggling to not set goals. There. I said it. I know my goal should be to finish upright. A bonus would be finishing with a smile. I should stop right there. I've never run two marathons in the same weekend before. Heck, I've never run two marathons in the same YEAR before. (I know, who goes … [Read more...]
Five brands that make my running life better
I've been running regularly for about 13 years now. I started when my teen was just a baby. When I first started, I only owned a couple of tech t-shirts, some compression shorts, and a random pair of running shoes that was on sale. I ran like that for more than four years. When I ran my first race, I wore a pair of men's running tights because that's all I could find at the last minute for an unexpectedly cold race. I've come a long way since then! In fact, I'm wearing four of the brands I love in this picture! (This post contains affiliate links.) … [Read more...]
Being Fearless
When I first started running, I wasn't at all familiar with the Boston Marathon and I only vaguely knew of Kathrine Switzer. As I immersed myself in the world of racing, I quickly learned of the iconic Boston Marathon and the story behind how Kathrine Switzer led the charge that eventually allowed women to run Boston. I'm sure you know the story, but let me share the highlights with you. In 1967, Kathrine Switzer entered the Boston Marathon. Women were not allowed to run, so she registered using her first initial. If one were to look at the pictures, you'd assume that she was trying to blend in by wearing shapeless grey sweats, but after reading the full story, you'd find out her attire was mostly weather related. One has to wonder … [Read more...]
thinking out loud
I'm joining up with Amanda at Running with Spoons for some "thinking out loud" because I have lots of stuff running around in my head. So here is your weekly dose of randomness... 1. I plan to run 18 miles on Thursday and 18 on Friday. I had originally planned on one more 20 miler, but my schedule just won't allow it to happen. To be honest, even hitting 18 is going to require everything to go absolutely perfectly from the time I get up until I finish. Why? Because I have a call with a client and have precisely the amount of time I need to drop the kid off at school, run, and get on the phone (ok, I might have a 10 minute cushion. maybe.) If I manage this, it'll be the most distance I've ever covered in two days and will still … [Read more...]
The Ultimate Coffee Date – April Version
Good morning! We are home from our adventures to Chicago and Wisconsin. It's good to be home, but it was nice to be spoiled for a few days. It was nice for someone else to plan the meals. I don't mind cooking, but I am not a fan of meal planning LOL. So, today, I'm joining up with my friends Deborah, Coco, and Lynda for a virtual coffee date. If we were having coffee, I'd tell you that a month from now I'll be done with my back to back marathons challenge. This week I will run 15+ and 20 back to back as my last long training runs. It's a good thing I work for a close friend because I had to tell him that on Thursday and Friday I'll be running most of the school day and that after the run I'm stupid. I actually read an article … [Read more...]
Beer, cello, and running
Yes, those 3 words pretty much sum up my weekend. So, today I'm linking up with Tara from Running 'n' Reading for the Weekend Recap. On Friday, we got one last (please, let it be the last!) blast of winter with 35* rain/snow nastiness. Luckily, the ground was too warm for anything to stick and the kids went to school as scheduled. I managed to get out and run a super hilly three mile run where I realized one thing: the weather at RNR DC could have sucked even more than it did. I was completely wet and chilled at the end and quite happy I was only doing three miles. … [Read more...]
Managing marathon training stress naturally
For most of us, running a marathon is something we choose to do. It's not our job. It doesn't pay the bills. We do it for "fun". But, as anyone who has run one (or more) can tell you, it's not an easy accomplishment and it takes a lot to fit the training into our regularly scheduled lives. Add in a snowy, cold winter and the whole process becomes a bit stressful. Don't get me wrong, it's not bad stress. I want to run this marathon. But I do need to manage it so that it doesn't start having a negative effect on my training. … [Read more...]
