Run, Sweat, Smile

I know I haven’t exactly kept it a secret here, but I seriously dislike running. I’d much rather feel the wind in my face from going 20+ miles an hour on the bike. But, I drug myself out for my run last night and purposefully forced myself to smile during it. I probably looked like an idiot, grinning and running and huffing and puffing, but it felt amazing. It was an instant mood lifter. Hey, it might have looked more like a grimace and I might have scared some small children, but I felt great! Happy, energetic, fast. I really could have kept running but didn’t want to go too crazy and ruin a good thing.

I really needed that positive run; the happiness has yet to abate and it’s 18 hours later. So, next time your run starts to suck, you lose motivation, you hit that hill – just smile!

Off-Season Motivation and Weightlifting

To be honest, I have fully embraced the triathlon “off-season” and have probably taken it a bit too far. As in, I run max 10 miles a week, I loathe my indoor trainer, and haven’t stepped foot in a pool for a couple months. I know this is going to make starting the new season even more difficult, but I honestly saw no other way to deal with my post-marathon struggles.

First Marathon – Hard Lessons Learned

It’s three days post-marathon, but my memories of the race feel like a dream. And I’m not talking about the type of dream  you wake up from, smiling. I’m talking nightmare, shuddering when you recollect the pain endured. Normally after races, I’m exultant, so overjoyed I end up signing up for additional races shortly after crossing the finish line. This time, not so much. I’ve been asked by coworkers and friends, now that you’ve done your first marathon, will you do a second? And I quite honestly don’t know the answer.

7 Week Marathon Training Plan: Marathon Week!

The prep for this marathon has been so short, I feel like I’ve barely had time to get all antsy and excited for it. But here it is; it snuck up on me and now I’m only a few days away from the Marine Corps Marathon. Part of me is so thrilled for my first marathon, and part of me is dreading the 4+ hours of pain it’s going to take to finish it.

7 Week Marathon Training Plan: Week 6

I realize it’s Wednesday, and I’m just now getting around to posting my week 6 workouts for my marathon training plan. Work has been pretty busy lately, and I’ve unfortunately been neglecting training somewhat. At this point though, I won’t gain any fitness in the next two weeks that will positively influence my marathon performance at all.

Why I’ll Never Buy Hoka One One’s

What swings one way to the extreme, surely must swing back just as hard in the opposite direction. This pendulum rebound is overtly (or covertly) expressed in every aspect of life. If you’ve been around long enough, you can really notice it happen in the fashion industry. (Since when are chokers cool again??) Maybe it’s just me, and my interests, but it’s also shockingly transparent in the running shoe industry.

7 Week Marathon Training Plan: Week 5 (and Week 4 Re-Cap)

So week four started off with a bang. And when I say bang, I actually mean a splitting headache, runny nose, and low-grade fever. I have been fighting this cold for the past week, and my workouts have been almost non-existent. I was feeling better and got a run in on Thursday, but felt slow and sluggish during it. And I managed to overdo it (typical) and set my healing back by a few days, as I woke up sick again on Friday morning.

7 Week Marathon Training Plan: Week 4

I can’t believe I’m already halfway through my condensed marathon training plan. Time flies when you’re…having fun? I don’t know, this marathon training hasn’t particularly been “fun” for me.

7 Week Marathon Training Plan: Week 3

Week 2 of marathon training went fairly well. I was able to get all my key runs in, and only neglected one easy run (in favor of an impromptu rest day). I had to shift my running plan around slightly because of working late. My five mile tempo run at the end of last week was incredibly tiresome, and I had to do it on a treadmill because of location and timing. But, no excuses, I got it in and got it done.

Things I Hate About Running

There are a few things I really like about running. But then, there are things I really hate about running. Hate.