Not ready for that running distance? Move down a race

The FAQ section on the races website explains how to switch races.

[Note: This post originally appeared on LovingTheRun.com, where I was a guest-blogger.]

I have never considered moving down a race level. Ever. But I must be growing as an athlete, because I recently did just that.

To be clear: It was not easy. Continue reading

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Filed under fitness, Illinois Half Marathon, Illness, Races, running

Beware the clipless pedals. They’re more efficient, but they’re dangerous (at first).

A Roscoe Village Bikes staffer teaches me how to use my new pedals and shoes.

My cyclist husband-to-be got me clipless pedals for Christmas; he’s been trying to get me on that bandwagon for nearly a year now. I resisted, thanks to my clumsiness, but it’s hard to say no when they’re wrapped up so nicely!

He also got me some pretty sweet triathlon shoes, but they were too small for my big ol’ clown feet. (It turns out Pearl Izumi apparently doesn’t make cycling shoes for women with size 10 feet. Hmpf.) Continue reading

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Filed under Cycling, Cycling shoes

What makes for a good triathlon coach? I’m tri-ing it out.

I've been told a coach doesn't need to be the best herself, she needs to know what to look for in others. (Creative commons; army.mil)

I’ve been learning the fine art of triathlon coaching since January from my friends at Well-Fit Triathlon & Training center.  I say “art,” because I think a person could read all the books in the world on science, fitness and health, and not know how to approach a given athlete’s needs. Continue reading

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Filed under Coaching, Swimming, Tips & Tricks, Triathlon

Austin half marathon race report: A sore throat, hills and a hot banana

Mmm. Nothing like waking up with a sore throat on race day, having to gargle salt water.

Running a half marathon is hard. And I’m sure putting the race on is even harder.

But is it so much to ask that a finisher doesn’t have to take a hot banana? Continue reading

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Filed under Austin Half Marathon, Illness, Races

Hills, hill, hills. Did training in Chicago prepare me for Austin Half?

A map of the Austin Half Marathon course.

My good friend Kristel and I decided last September that we were going to run the Austin Half Marathon on Feb. 20.

That’s now tomorrow. Continue reading

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Filed under Austin Half Marathon, Races

Aches, pains, soreness, stiffness? They make pills for that, you know.

When did I become an old lady -- using a pillbox to keep track of all my vitamins?

My grandparents were of the mindset that a pill could fix whatever ailed them. In fact, they used to have a huge drawer in the kitchen that held nothing but Costco-sized bottles of pills. How they kept them all straight, I’ll never know.

I have never really been into taking a pill for every little thing. After my hip surgery in May of 2009, my mom had to force the drugs down my throat. And even then, I only took the painkillers for 24 hours. Continue reading

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Filed under Nutrition & hydration, Vitamins & supplements

Paying it forward: Running Soldier Field 10-miler for AHA

Dan Malinski and I finished up the Have a Heart 5K fun run together on Saturday.

“Your heart chakra is really strong,” my massage therapist told me after our 90-minute session tonight.

I feel that my heart chakra is strong. I am healthy. I am happy. And I have learned from the injuries that plagued me for years; enough to get an intense sports massage when muscle aches start to become persistent.

It’s a fitting phrase, then, for what I had already planned to blog about here tonight: I have joined the American Heart Association’s Start! Running Team. Continue reading

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Filed under Charity, Races, running, Soldier Field 10