I am an athlete. While I may no longer be on a team and I may no longer be able to catch or throw a ball to save my life (thanks to years of mostly just running), I am an athlete. I train hard and I push myself to the limit (less as I get… Continue reading Empty Pavement
Grace and Grit
It is interesting to me how much running is like life. We go through periods where all seems to be going well and hope is always in our back pocket. Then we have times where things aren't bad, but they could be better and we figure our luck will turn soon. Past experience tells us… Continue reading Grace and Grit
Gone from Earth, Not Our Hearts
Earlier this month, an old friend from college died by his own hand. It is the kind of tragedy that is difficult to wrap your mind around and penetrates deep within your soul. He was our teammate on our college cross-country team and, while we had not seen him in a while, the team was… Continue reading Gone from Earth, Not Our Hearts
My Intentions for 2019
As I reflect on 2018 and envision what I hope for in 2019, I see Faith, Love, Strength, and Possibilities. I will strive to be more present for all the beauty I have the privilege of witnessing on a regular basis: Students connecting with one another as well as their teachers Teachers showing up and… Continue reading My Intentions for 2019
Faith and Fear
I am sure I am not alone when I say that there are times in my life I have made the "safe" choice rather than choosing what I really wanted. Maybe you didn't talk to someone you found attractive or interesting and now you wonder, "What if..." Perhaps you wanted to take a trip somewhere… Continue reading Faith and Fear
Nifty Fifty
2018 has been quite an adventure for me in terms of racing and running. I completed two half marathons, three marathons, and my first Ultra Marathon (a trail 50K). It was my first time ever doing that many marathons in a year and it came after a 1.5 year hiatus from racing. Near the end… Continue reading Nifty Fifty
Glimmers of Hope
Typically, in the week prior to a race, I spend a great deal of time thinking about my race, preparing for it physically and mentally by getting adequate rest and nutrition and visualizing how I would like the race to go. For the Beyond the Beach Marathon on September 16th, things were vastly different. On… Continue reading Glimmers of Hope
Now That’s More Like It
A little over two weeks ago, I ran my 6th half marathon at the 10th Annual Madison Mini Marathon (see picture below). I ran the race three years ago, setting a PR by one minute. Much has changed in three years, however, so I did not expect to set a PR this year. In fact, I had… Continue reading Now That’s More Like It
Taming the Beast
For anyone who uses social media, you know what a blessing and a curse it can be. It allows us to keep in touch with friends and family near and far and to network with people we may not otherwise meet in person. At the same time, it is very easy to play the comparison… Continue reading Taming the Beast
Fifteen Years and Counting
During my adolescence, I did not attract much attention from boys. I attributed this to the fact that I was not pretty enough, when it was more likely because I was not very self-confident. I never really had a boyfriend during my middle school or high school years, just a few dates here and there.… Continue reading Fifteen Years and Counting
Redefined Runner 