I'm finally over my post-marathon cold. I read this often happens to runners two weeks after a marathon. In the two I've ran, this has occured without fail.  It allowed me some time to reflect on the past few months. A lot has happened and I'm not sure if I've given… Read full post »

"What time are you supposed to get up?"

"I set the alarm on my phone. We're ok."

"You sure?"

"Yeah, what time is it?"

"6:50."

"$#!t! We gotta go. NOW!"

I had never been more grateful I had set out my running clothes the night before the race. In less than… Read full post »

My employer gave me a clip-on iPod shuffle for my 5 year anniversary, which has helped ease the pain on my arm carrying my iPod touch. While I give up some luxuries, the pros have more than outweighed the cons.

So here's the accompainent for what I hope will be a… Read full post »

I said a year ago that the Steamboat Classic helped me realize what a great town Peoria is. There are things to like. There are a lot of scenic trails, great people, and some cool historical landmarks. It's a really cool place to get attached to...in the summer.

Now it's fall.… Read full post »

10  years ago I was a poor fat and lazy journalism student recovering from a sinus infection. I left the television on from the night  before so I kept thinking what was actually happening on the news was a dream. The reality was much more terrifying than I ever could have imagined.… Read full post »

First things first, let me get this out of the way. The one race I fundraise for is the Peoria Komen Race for the Cure. If you should find it in your heart and pocketbook to donate anything to the fight against breast cancer, please visit the site below and thank… Read full post »

A few days ago on my Twitter I was asking for suggestions for my marathon playlist. I got some great suggestions so thank you everyone who contributed.

There are a few notable things to mention:

1. There isn't any U2. This wasn't on purpose but I'm not adding it at the… Read full post »

Races are expensive! I just plopped down $75 to run the Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon in October which I considered a steal since I would have paid nearly double to run the Chicago Marathon a week later. When it comes down to it, between the training program, hotel, expo, dinner, and the… Read full post »

The most obvious answer to how I miraculously shaved seven minutes of my previous half-marathon time? I’ve been running long distances while training for a marathon.

I have been entertaining other possibilities. I somehow received a transfusion of tigerblood or chanting “winning” a… Read full post »

This weekend I got my first 20 mile run under my belt. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but a marathon adds on 6.2 more. If I think I had trouble then what’s going to happen come race day?

In an effort to keep my muscles… Read full post »

As I type this, an ice pack is keeping the inflammation in my left hip down. According to my chiropractor, that particular joint isn’t lubricating properly and the muscle is starting to rub against my bone. Not the thing I want to hear the day before I’m about to run a… Read full post »

I was reminded today as I suffered through my Monday evening exercise class that we set our clocks ahead an hour this Sunday. This news meant that my season long funk of darkness and depression finally comes to an end and I say hello to my friend Mr. Sunshine. The fear… Read full post »

Even though I spend a lot of my free time running and working out, I still manage to go to the movies at least once a week. It’s one of those habits that I cannot shake. When I was a student, I worked in a movie theater for five years. My… Read full post »

The temperature in Peoria dipped below freezing over the weekend. Three inches of snow planted itself on the ground. Meanwhile my friends continued to give me weather updates from the St. Jude Marathon in Memphis. You would think hearing about others running in the streets where The King of Rock and… Read full post »

A few weeks ago, I blogged about going out of town to run in the Indianapolis Half Marathon and the disappointment I felt that there was no excitement in the city for the event.  I returned three weeks later for the Monumental Half Marathon, which took runners through the scenic parts/… Read full post »

In the spirit of the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, it seems only fair that we talk about everyone’s favorite protein: tofu!

I bring tofu up because I have a package of the extra firm vareity in my fridge still waiting to be used for something.  Maybe a stir-fry.  Perhaps a casserole./… Read full post »

When I started training for the Steamboat Classic in April, I also purchased a copy of Runner’s World magazine.  The reason why I purchased it was because the issue featured a beginner’s guide to running which I found invaluable during those crucial months.  That particular issu/… Read full post »

The night before we left for Indianapolis a few of us gathered around the dinner table to carb up with a pasta dinner.  We shared stories and bonded over breadsticks and noodles.  One of us was about to complete their first full marathon.  Some were about to complete their first half-m/… Read full post »

You all thought I quit, didn't you?  Silent for almost a month and you thought this little project was over.  I'm back to prove my swagger never died, it multiplied.

The last month has been nothing if not eventful for so many reasons.  The highlight was finishing the Indianapolis Half-… Read full post »

 A few random experiences this week:

 As much as I've whining and moaning about training on hills, I know it's been helping me gain speed.  The evidence became apparent when I completed a 5K in less than 30 minutes and barely broke a sweat.  The temperature that morning had a lot… Read full post »

It's hard to believe fall starts tonight.  With the temperature reaching well-over 80 degrees in the Peoria area and the humidity making things a little unbearable, you would never be able to tell it’s almost the end of September.  As my running friends and I start planning to do… Read full post »

It was obvious that the months of training had not been in vain on Thursday night.  Somehow my friends and I managed to run four easy miles in less than 40 minutes, which is fast for two people who were running a 12 minute pace back in April.  Yet deep down… Read full post »

No matter how I put this, it's going to come out wrong.  Consider this my apology if you read this and are offended, but this has been simmering for a few weeks now.

Yesterday I got a sneak peak at the latest Runner's World and sure enough, the cover features a… Read full post »

Apparently after last week's post, a few people were actually scared I was going to "retire."  Apparently no one read the entire invitation that was the pity party I held for myself last week.  Whenever I drop a significant amount of money on anything related to a hobby (like shoes), p… Read full post »

It seems like yesterday when I bought my first real pair of running shoes.  Here I am nearly four months later trying on new ones and talking with the salesperson about training for an upcoming race.  The difference is I'm not running a four mile race, I'm training for a half-marathon. … Read full post »