Ultra Life

Whether you have "made it" is relative to your perspective.

"But what if it rains on race day?" I ask myself, backing up underneath the narrow eaves. "You will race in the rain," I respond, hitting "start" on my Garmin and tucking it under my sleeve, already growing drenched. #runtheyear2016 #umstead100

The strands at my temples struggle away from their elastic in the wind, as I pause to thank the Beach Running Gods for their offering. #runtheyear2016

And Sun said, "If I catch you, I get to kiss you." #runtheyear2016 (at Pensacola Beach, Florida)

The promise of acceptance increases with each successive screen until the final page announces authoritatively, disregarding my apprehension: Registration Complete. #RuntheRut #runblr #RuntheYear

#runblr

#runblr

Eleanor Roosevelt said to do one thing every day that scares you. With my Umstead registration official, now sufficiently scared shitless.

In racing and in life, you'll never get an "A" if you're scared of getting an "F."

I didn't quite reach my 1:50 stretch goal, but I am proud of my new 1:51:52 PR, down from the 1:54:15 I set on this course in 2012!

Eleanor Roosevelt said “do one thing every day that scares you.” She probably wasn’t talking about half marathon pacing. But I’m aiming to beat my 1:54:15 PR from 2012 at the Runner’s World Half tomorrow and, since I’m running double the weekly miles as I was in 2012, have 2 marathons under my belt now (both from 2014), and a third on the way in 6 weeks, I thought a 1:49:xx would be even cooler than squeaking out a PR. I’m not sure I can do it, but I feel like only good things can come from trying. Tomorrow, I run scared…

Do you really need a special diet in order to increase your running performance? This article examines that question (spoiler: the answer is no), and offers some great tips to fueling your body for competition.  The author, Matt Fitzgerald, also wrote Racing Weight, a fantastic guide for endurance athletes trying to walk (or run) that fine line between eating enough to run your best, but not so much that you're packing on extra pounds.

A query from my friend Sarah's super-hero-obsessed 5-year-old.  She posted it just as I was on my way out the door for hill repeats.  It made them feel just a little easier.

Had my first run this morning in my new home sweet home! Yesterday morning my husband and I made the long flight from Boston to the left coast. Now I just have to get used to my race results saying "Seattle, WA" ...