We have just entered the spring season and my desire to run and hike is slowly increasing to its previous grandeur. Last week I hiked Lone Oak trail to reset my mind and carry me into the training season. Later in the week I ran 8 miles and that run really sparked my running bug again. I am on my way into the zone. I did exercise during the winter and early spring. I had a hard time running in…
On the “off” season, my “long” runs aren’t very long. After research and soul searching, I realized that it’s okay to take a bit of a break during the winter as it’s the off season and there are very few races out there in the colder regions. Being a native Mainer, the winter weather in Tennessee is quite mild, but it’s not exactly warm. There are some frigid days to contend with. On this day I was actually able to…
During the winter months, I tend to be a homebody and one thing I enjoy doing is crafting. Sometimes I look around on Pinterest for ideas and I was lucky enough to find a “running wall” project. If you enjoy running in road/trail races, chances are you have an abundance of number bibs and medals. Instead of shoving them in a drawer, why not display them proudly? How do you display them? Create a running wall! Find a free space…
Any athlete, including runners, knows that a strong, healthy body is necessary for success. We can achieve this in countless ways and it is usually dependent on our sport of choice. It only makes sense that if you’re a runner, you need to run to stay in tip top shape. It is also important, however, to focus on every part of our body– including our mind– to achieve optimal conditioning. Why Yoga? Yoga is a practice that originated thousands of…
I’ve spent the last month thinking about how I can make myself and my life better. I took a quiz to figure out what I want out of life. What are my goals? Where do I see myself in 5 years? What do I need to change? Where can I improve? How can I improve? It was hard to answer some of those questions. I had to rack my brain to figure out what I want to change. I have…
The term “fall back” means a lot more to me than turning back the clock. While the fall is beautiful with the changing leaves and crisp, clear air, this is a very difficult time of year for me. My mood changes, my motivation is minimal and I just want to wrap up in a warm blanket and sleep. This is not good for the energy it takes to keep up with my training. I must say that I’m proud of…
Among a group of zombies, ghosts, and black cats (like me!) I ran my first half-marathon. I thought that the distractions of a Halloween race would lessen the pain of running 13.1 miles and I believe that strategy worked. It was such a fun atmosphere with the elaborate costumes, Halloween music, and funny signs along the route. It was still painful but I enjoyed every minute of it (well, maybe not the endless hills…). I think that the days, hours,…
During the final week of my trip, I stayed with my parents in Maine. They live on a lake and the scenery is beautiful. Unfortunately, I failed to take many pictures. I was just so happy to make it to Maine and enjoy the feeling of being back in my original home state. The moment I stepped into the camp, just the smell brought back so many memories. I spent my summer days here as a child and they were…
After all the whirlwind of my road trip and then another trip to Gatlinberg/Pigeon Forge, I have a lot of catching up to do! My whole training schedule for the upcoming half marathon was pretty much blown to shit and I really don’t know if I’m ready or not. Anyway, I was very happy to come back home and run/hike my favorite trail at Lone Oak. I didn’t let myself get out of it too easy. This is a very…
Destination: Roslindale, MA My next destination was in Boston to visit my aunt and cousin. The focus was definitely not on running/hiking. On the first night, we went to a great restaurant where we met up with another cousin and her husband. The meal was delicious and it was fun to share some yummy desserts. The next day, I spent time with my aunt and cousin exploring Boston’s China Town. We had some great authentic food and saw some interesting…