Tag: run

Looking Back – A Race Review of The Chicago Marathon

On By idratherbestrongthanskinnyIn marathon training, race recap, running, travel2 Comments

I registered for the 2017 Chicago Marathon on a post-race high following the 2016 Philadelphia Marathon. My summer spent ironman training more than prepared me to take on 26.2 miles in Philly, despite not doing a ton of training in between the October 1st triathlon and the November 20th race date. Nearly two months of squashing my sorrows in food and beer after a disappointing race experience (more about that here) had me weighing about 15 pounds heavier than my normal weight, and not in the “look how much muscle mass I gained”-way. Yet I surprised myself by running a 3:24:33 — my second-best marathon time (second to a 3:21:16 in the 2014 New York Marathon).

A few days after returning from Philly (or, more likely, the next day) a friend told me he planned to use his qualifying time in Philadelphia to enter the Chicago Marathon. I decided to join him, and, in my post-race stupor, was excited to work for an ambitious goal: a PR.

Unfortunately, a few weeks later — and most likely due to those 15 pounds — I found myself diagnosed with a stress fracture in my foot, and unable to run for more for than two months. I had to reevaluate my life, and later, my running goals. I decided not to run the Boston Marathon in April, and declared that my goal for Chicago would simply to be to finish pain-free.

The good news is, I succeeded! Here’s how it all went down:

THE TRIP

I’ve run 12 marathons, but the only other race I’ve had to get on an airplane for was my very first marathon, the Nashville Country Music Marathon in April of 2012. I remember that trip being full of anticipation — my friends and I were giggling nervously and filled with genuine excitement to explore Nashville. In retrospect, I should have been more excited than I was for my trip to Chicago. I honestly think that after a winter of injuries (my friends experienced their fair share of injuries as well), a summer spent focusing on a difficult calculus class, and the complexities of coordinating accommodations for eight people, I wasn’t feeling the ‘journey’ at all, but rather just wanted to arrive at my destination unscathed.

The good news: flying out of Newark was seamless and easy; NJ Transit got us to the airport for $13, we got through security in a breeze, there were delicious margaritas and beers at the terminal restaurant, and I got to sit with my friends for the duration of the flight.

THE EXPO

Screen Shot 2017-10-16 at 9.45.16 AM Continue reading “Looking Back – A Race Review of The Chicago Marathon” →

The Runner Diaries — Elizabeth Carey

On By idratherbestrongthanskinnyIn Inspiration, race recap, running, The Runner Diaries, travel2 Comments

Welcome to The Runner Diaries, where we’re sharing a behind-the-scenes look into a week of training with runners of varying ages, paces and GPS coordinates. Get The Runner Diaries delivered to your inbox, here.

This week, we have 33-year-old Elizabeth Carey, a public relations guru and runner who just recently relocated to Seattle, Washington. The former Division I athlete and post-collegiate sub-elite is currently figuring out the best way to juggle her full-time job (and side gigs) with her new status as an age grouper and recreational runner, all while training for ultra marathons in the process.

THE RUNDOWN
Name: Elizabeth Carey
Location: Seattle, Washington
Age: 33
Training for: Trail and ultra races—including Backcountry Rise
Training plan: About eight months ago, I hired coach David Roche, whose, “Some Work All Play” philosophy and Trail Runner columns about training appealed to me. Although I have been a professional coach and worked with a range of athletes, I cannot coach myself.
Part of any running communities, clubs or training programs? Oiselle Volée, SWAP Team
How long you’ve been a “runner:” Since joining the high school track team in the spring 1999.
Weekly mileage: 35-55 (ish)

RUNNER’S STATEMENT

Running is my lifeblood. It’s a constant, evolving presence in my life—one that introduced me to  confidence, health, my best friends, a career, heartbreak, and hope. It’s become more ritual than routine—a daily spiritual practice, an exercise in self awareness, a river I revisit.

As a former Division I athlete and post-collegiate sub-elite, I’ve struggled with my identity as a current age-grouper and recreational yogger. This is a privileged, superfluous perspective. I cannot forget that running and racing is a gift. So I continue to chase both fitness and the confidence to compete wire-to-wire. With a focus on feel and flow, I’m exploring new trails and distances, ignoring splits.

Sunday | Day One

9:30 a.m. — Wake up to the sound of laughter and kids running down a hall. My husband and I stayed with friends after going to a season opener football game at the University of Oregon. The kids aren’t ours, but they are cute. We get up and hang with the family.

10 a.m. — Smoke from nearby wildfires is so dense I wonder if I should run the 8 miles that’s slated. I’ve run through this summer’s unprecedented smoke all over the Pacific Northwest, but this is the worst I’ve seen, and I can feel a burning taste at the back of my throat even as we just sit around. I’ve got a headache (half hangover, half need-a-coffee) anyway, so email my coach to see if I can swap today’s run for tomorrow’s rest day. Continue reading “The Runner Diaries — Elizabeth Carey” →

The Runner Diaries — Christopher Baker

On By idratherbestrongthanskinnyIn Ironman Training, marathon training, race recap, running, The Boston Marathon, The Runner Diaries, travel, triathlon2 Comments

Inspired by Refinery29’s Money Diaries and The Cut’s Sex Diaries, welcome to The Runner Diaries, where we’re sharing a behind-the-scenes look into a week of training with runners of varying ages, paces and GPS coordinates.

This week, we have Christopher Baker of New York’s Upper East Side. Baker is an artist, endurance sport coach, and active member of running and triathlon community The Battalion. Below, he documents his training to achieve an aggressive goal of qualifying for the 2018 Boston Marathon (“BQ-ing”) in the upcoming New Jersey Marathon, and a trip to the northeast to spectate and cheer at the Boston Marathon on Marathon Monday.

The Run Down

Name: Christopher Baker
Location: Upper East Side of NYC
Age: 39
Training For: New Jersey Marathon on April 30, and Ironman Chattanooga on September 24
Occupation: Artist
Goal: BQ (under 3 hours, 10 minutes) at the NJ Marathon
Training Plan? Yes, I personally designed it. It is an aggressive 6-week plan due to when I decided I wanted a BQ attempt, and when the race fell. I run 20 to 25 miles a week on average when not training for a race, so I already had a solid base to start.
Part of any running clubs? I am part of The Battalion, a local running/triathlon team.
How long have you been a runner? I have been running for 9 years.
Goal weekly mileage? My goal mileage this week is 30-40 miles. Continue reading “The Runner Diaries — Christopher Baker” →

This Woman Will Run 240 Miles To The Women’s March On Washington In Support Of Planned Parenthood

On By idratherbestrongthanskinnyIn headlines, Inspiration, runningLeave a comment

On Jan. 16, 2017 (which also happens to be Martin Luther King Jr. Day), Alison Marie Désir and a small team of women will begin a 240-mile run from Harlem to Washington D.C. in an effort to raise money and awareness for Planned Parenthood, and to showcase the awesome power of women.

The initiative, called “Four Women Run for ALL Women,” will require Désir and her comrades to run roughly two New York City Marathon distances for five days in a row (a marathon is 26.2 miles, meaning the women will be running an ultra marathon each day).

I wrote about Désir’s trek in an article on Bustle, which you can read in it’s entirety here. Join the cause and either run yourself, or donate to the GoFundMe page!

Run-solutions

On By idratherbestrongthanskinnyIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

I’ve never made a New Years Resolution. I’m not really sure why. I’ve never seriously needed to lose weight, or quit something addictive like smoking (the two biggest resolutions on the planet)… but there are definitely things in my life I’ve needed to improve, change, start doing more of, or stop completely.

For those who are making resolutions, I ask you this: if certain things need to be changed, or something needs to be started, why wait until New Years? You can’t turn your life around at any one moment, but you can start to change any day of the year. You don’t need a new year to improve yourself or start doing things differently from the way you did them yesterday. (Bottom line: if you fail at upholding your resolution come February, don’t wait until 2014 to try again.)

And while I don’t necessarily believe resolutions are vital, I do believe a new year is a time for a fresh start. So I wanted to set a few goals for myself for 2013. And of course, the majority of them are running oriented.

  • Enter and complete no less than 13 road races this year. They can be 5ks, 10ks, half marathons, fulls, triathlon sprints or crabwalks. This means entering at least one race per month. (I’m already signed up for 3, so we only have 10 more to go!)
  • Run the NYC half marathon in 1:40 or less
  • Follow and stick to a training plan for the Long Branch Marathon, and run under or as close to 4 hours as possible
  • Cross train more—get to more spin and yoga classes and let my shins rest
  • Get into, or register for, a major marathon (New York City, Philly, Boston, Chicago)
  • Try vegetarianism for a month in 2013. See if it improves, enhances or advances my life/body/mind/spiritual wellbeing/etc.
  • Treat my feet better
  • This isn’t running oriented but also: be nicer, more generous, and think less negative thoughts throughout 2013.

Do you have any runsolutions or resolutions for 2013? Share them in the comments!