Category: running

  • Safety tips for running alone

    Safety tips for running alone

    Hello and happy spring! I’m excited for longer days and longer runs without five layers, three pairs of gloves, and a scarf wrapped around my head like I’m a mummy.

    Warmer weather means more outdoors runs. And for me, that also means more solo runs.

    Do you ever run alone? If so, do you always feel safe when you do?

    According to a 2017 Runner’s World survey of over 2,500 women, nearly one in three say they’ve been followed by someone—whether on foot or in a car—while they were running. The results also showed that 43 percent of women say they’ve sometimes, often, or always have been honked at, catcalled, or received unsolicited sexual attention on their runs. Read the full article: Running While Female.

    Unfortunately, these stats are not surprising.

    My female friends and I have experienced the above on multiple occasions during runs. Luckily, the situations have never been scary — just annoying.

    I think it’s important to always be cautious and practice safety when you’re out running.

    Here are some safety tips I follow:

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  • Apps that keep you safe while running

    Apps that keep you safe while running

    Running apps are obviously great for tracking the time, pace and mileage of your runs. But did you know some of them can also keep you safe? There are apps where you can share your real-time location with family members and friends. I think this is a smart idea, especially if you tend to enjoy solo runs, as I do. I did a little research on some available ones out there.

    Here are some I came across:

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  • Half marathons to run in 2019

    Half marathons to run in 2019

    I don’t know about you guys, but it always takes me a little while to plan my races out for the year. There’s cost, other travel plans, work commitments, etc. to factor in. And then when there are a few great races taking place the same weekend, there’s trying to decide which one to go with. It can be tough!

    Well, after a few weeks of strategizing, I think I have my 2019 race schedule (mostly) set.

    drumroll…
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  • Chicago Marathon 2018 — I’m in!

    Chicago Marathon 2018 — I’m in!

    In November, I impulsively decided to enter the 2018 Chicago Marathon lottery.

    It’s been a couple of years since I ran my last (full) marathon (Marine Corps Marathon 2015), so I figured, why not?

    Also, I’ve recently decided I would try and run all six of the World Marathon Majors — Chicago, New York, Boston, Berlin, London, and Tokyo. I figured this would be a goal I’d work on while continuing to complete my 50 states challenge.

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  • Girls on the Run 5k – Inspiring little ladies to live their best lives

    Girls on the Run 5k – Inspiring little ladies to live their best lives

    I work with an organization called Girls on the Run.

    Their goal is to inspire girls to be happy, healthy and confident by using a fun, engaging curriculum that integrates running. The program teaches girls life skills that focuses on understanding ourselves, valuing relationships and teamwork, and understanding how we connect with and shape the world at large. The lessons aim to empower girls to be strong, compassionate and fearless in pursuing their dreams. Each season culminates in an exciting 5k race.

    Today was race day for the girls!

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  • 19/50: Massachusetts — Boston’s Run to Remember

    19/50: Massachusetts — Boston’s Run to Remember

    Hello friends! Can’t believe it’s August and Labor Day is peeking around the corner. Summer is flying by!

    Let’s rewind back to Memorial Day weekend for a minute though. I owe you guys a race recap for state #19: Massachusetts!

    Yes, that was more than two months ago. Sorry for the delay. Things happen. Laziness happens. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

    The race was a good one — I did Boston’s Run to Remember. It honors the city’s first responders killed in the line of duty. The weather was beautiful, the race was well-organized, there was amazing course support, annnnd I finished with a PR. Second PR that month!

    I highly recommend this race if you’re looking for a good half marathon in the Boston area.

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  • Birthday Miles, Global Running Day, Inspirational Running Stories

    Birthday Miles, Global Running Day, Inspirational Running Stories

    Happy Friday Eve!

    Did you participate in Global Running Day yesterday? It coincided with my birthday this year, so I celebrated both with a 4-mile run after work.

    Seemed like almost everyone I was following on Twitter and Instagram was out for a run at some point during the day. Saw the #GlobalRunningDay hashtag all over the place! It was awesome.

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  • Memorial Day, Boston’s Run to Remember, Another PR in May

    Memorial Day, Boston’s Run to Remember, Another PR in May

    Happy Memorial Day, friends!

    I just returned from Boston last night after participating in Boston’s Run to Remember — a half marathon that honors the city’s first responders killed in the line of duty. It was a beautiful race that started in the Seaport District and went through historic downtown Boston. I finished with another PR!

    I’ll have a full write-up of the race and my trip up soon.

    I hope you all are enjoying the long weekend.

    Thanks, Boston, for giving me my 2nd PR this month. And THANK YOU to all who have served and sacrificed in the line of duty. We honor you.
    Thanks, Boston, for giving me my 2nd PR this month. And THANK YOU to all who have served and sacrificed in the line of duty. We honor you.
    boston 2
    About 10,000 runners participated in this year’s Boston’s Run to Remember, a race that honors the first responders killed in the line of duty.
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    This beautiful flag garden at Boston Common contains 37,000 flags — a flag planted in memory of every fallen Massachusetts service member from the Revolutionary War to the present.
  • 18/50: Ohio — Flying Pig (Half) Marathon

    18/50: Ohio — Flying Pig (Half) Marathon

    Guys! I’m back from Iceland and Ohio! Both trips were amazing (each in their own way, of course). Will write more about Iceland in another post. For now, I’m going to tell you all about Ohio.

    Personally, I think it’s an underrated state. We had a great time there. We visited Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton, and Sandusky — all in three days. Pretty crazy. I’m still amazed we were able to pull it off.

    There were many highlights of the trip, but the most noteworthy for this blog is… setting a new PR in the Flying Pig (half) and finishing strong!

    It was completely unexpected. Unexpected for a couple of reasons: (1) the course is described as hilly and challenging (and it was!), and (2) I got only three hours of sleep the night before!

    But somehow, things seemed to have worked out in my favor that day. No complaints here!

    It was a great race — definitely in my top 10 favorites!

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  • Training for Flying Pig Half Marathon and 2017 race schedule updates

    Training for Flying Pig Half Marathon and 2017 race schedule updates

    Hello friends, and hello April!

    February and March flew right by, and I am now only one month away from my first race of the year — Flying Pig Half Marathon in Cincinnati, Ohio (May 7).

    I kicked off April with 16 miles this past weekend — 8 treadmill miles Saturday morning, 5 treadmill miles Sunday morning, and 3 fast miles at the C&O Canal Sunday evening. I did those 3 miles with a friend, and spent the entire time trying to keep pace with him. Wasn’t easy — I had a gasping for life moment at the end. But I survived! And I think it was good for me. I don’t push myself enough when it comes to speed and definitely need to add more speed workouts into my schedule.

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