Does This Count as Rest?
A rest day should be pretty simple. Do not run. Take it easy. Runners still manage to make that complicated.
Late Kickoffs, Early Miles
College football is almost back! Saturday nights will once again end later than they should and Sunday long runs will come earlier than I want. I know exactly what staying up for the late game does to the next morning, and I will probably make the same choice anyway.
Back to School for Runners
The kids are heading back to school, which means new clothes, new supplies, and a fresh start. Runners aren’t much different as a new training cycle brings new goals, new plans and, if we’re lucky, a few new supplies of our own. From pencils and pens to gels and running shoes, the back-to-school supply list looks a little different for runners.
Summer Running Survival Guide
Summer running has a way of humbling even the most seasoned runners. Between the heat, humidity, and afternoon thunderstorms, every run feels like its own challenge. Thankfully, a few simple strategies can help you make it to fall with your fitness and sanity intact.
Things Runners Lose
Open my sock drawer and you’ll quickly notice something is off. There are more lonely running socks than I’d like to admit. But, they’re not the only things running takes away.
The Runner That Left
Every run begins by leaving home. After enough miles, you realize the runner who returns is not the same one who left.
My Favorite Race
All runners have their favorite race. That one they register for the day registration opens. The one they cannot wait to run again the moment they cross the finish line. For me, that race is the Peachtree Road Race.
Salute Red, White, and Blue
Sometimes there are finish lines that, once you cross them, you are no longer the same person. Sometimes that finish line provides more than a medal or a PR; it provides a journey of healing. That finish line for me was Salute Red, White, and Blue.
Every Run Can’t Be Remembered
Over the past seven years I have gone on nearly 1,800 runs and covered almost 11,000 miles. For someone who remembers almost everything, it is surprising how few of those runs I can actually recall. Some were highlights, some were lowlights, and plenty were completely unremarkable. Every one of them helped get me where I am today, but only a handful still live vividly in my memory. Those are the ones where I can instantly go back to that moment. I remember the smell in the air, how I was feeling, and sometimes almost every step.
From the Pitch to the Pavement
Soccer has officially taken over my summer. For the past week and a half, the World Cup has been a mainstay in my home. My mornings start with match previews, my afternoons are filled by group-stage drama. But as I’ve sat glued to the screen, I’ve realized I’m not just watching a tournament. The deeper I get into this World Cup, the more familiar it all feels. Because, in a lot of ways, the World Cup and all it represents is exactly like running.